The Connecticut Solar simply offered out TD Backyard — and it’s well-deserved

The Solar are one of many winningest franchises within the WNBA, however largely because of being primarily based within the league’s smallest market in Uncasville, Connecticut, they’ve usually been neglected.

Subsequent week, that’s going to vary — at the very least for one evening. The Solar host the Sparks at TD Backyard in Boston on Tuesday at 7pm ET, and tickets to that recreation have already offered out, the group introduced Friday.

The sport is slated to be the third-highest attended recreation within the WNBA this season, a very exceptional feat contemplating it doesn’t function Caitlin Clark, the Fever rookie who has been largely credited with boosting WNBA attendance and viewership throughout the board. It’s the Solar’s sixth sellout of the 2024 season, and the 19,156 tickets offered mark the very best attendance to any recreation in franchise historical past.

Solar President Jen Rizzotti expressed her pleasure in a press release launched on Friday.

“We’re thrilled with the reception from the Boston marketplace for our recreation at TD Backyard,” she stated. “It’s actually particular to make historical past by internet hosting the primary ever skilled girls’s basketball recreation on this enviornment, recognized for its unimaginable basketball prowess and championship tradition. It is a large alternative to show the Connecticut Solar model by enjoying a recreation extra centrally positioned to our New England fan base.”

Although the recognition of the WNBA has boomed throughout the board, many groups have skilled that progress greater than the Solar. Connecticut has the highest all-time successful proportion in WNBA historical past — having received 56.8% of their video games — however the fewest variety of Instagram followers on the official group account.

Whereas Instagram followers are removed from an ideal measure of recognition, it’s noteworthy that the Golden State Valkyries, the most recent WNBA group that doesn’t actually have a roster but, has a bigger following.

“Clearly, we’re nonetheless behind in lots of areas,” Thomas stated. “And it’s loopy to say that once we made the playoffs so many various instances, and have received lots of basketball. We simply wish to proceed to see this develop to what it may be. And I nonetheless assume we now have a protracted approach to go.”

Subsequent, Solar gamers need their very own observe facility

Staff-specific observe amenities have grow to be the gold commonplace within the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces turned the first WNBA group to assemble a observe facility solely for their very own utilization, and the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury each adopted go well with shortly after. Most lately, the Chicago Sky introduced they might be constructing their personal state-of-the-art facility.

There’s additionally a slew of groups that share observe amenities with their NBA counterparts, together with the Minnesota Lynx and Indiana Fever, which helps guarantee top-tier facilities.

Then, there’s the Connecticut Solar, who observe on the Tribal Observe Facility, part of the Mohegan Neighborhood and Authorities Middle in Uncasville, Connecticut. The group doesn’t have unique entry to the power, so gamers can’t use it year-round — and since it’s a authorities facility, it doesn’t have lots of the facilities an expert basketball group’s devoted area would have.

Photograph by Pamela Costello/NBAE through Getty Pictures

Alyssa Thomas spoke to that in her first press convention after the Olympic break, noting that spending time round round USA gamers who hail from totally different organizations highlighted that disparity.

“That’s one factor with enjoying on Staff USA, and being round different gamers which can be in markets which can be the staple of what you need your group to be in,” she stated. “Truthfully, Connecticut’s tremendous behind in terms of that. I’ve been right here 11 years, and sure, we’ve made modifications, however lots of issues nonetheless have a lot room for enchancment.”

Having their very own observe facility is of explicit significance.

“With how basketball is shaking up and fewer gamers are going abroad, we want our personal observe facility and issues like that,” Thomas stated. “The time is now, and other people wish to come and keep within the cities and prepare like that, and never lots of people wish to keep in Connecticut, and we don’t have the amenities that you would be able to prepare all yr spherical in, in that side.

The inhabitants of Uncasville, Connecticut is lower than 19,000. It’s by far the smallest market of any WNBA group. Consequently, regardless of having an extremely passionate fanbase — attendance inevitably suffers. The Solar’s common house attendance is the fourth-lowest within the league at round 7,650 tickets, per Throughout the Timeline.

Enjoying a single common season recreation at TD Backyard just isn’t going to resolve all of Connecticut’s issues. However the truth that the sport is already offered out is a welcome signal, and a possible indicator of issues to return.

Extra eyes are coming, and after they do, they’ll be taught the Solar at present boast the all-time triple-double chief in Alyssa Thomas, the fourth main scorer in WNBA historical past in DeWanna Bonner, and two elite defenders in DiJonai Carrington and Brionna Jones. In addition they have the second-best file within the league at 18-6, and are within the combine to contend for a championship.

“Girls’s basketball is sizzling proper now, and so many individuals wish to assist what we’re doing,” Thomas stated. “Going to Boston is a large step to a market that’s larger.”