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

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

Subsequent week, that’s going to alter — 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 sport have already bought out, the staff introduced Friday.

The sport is slated to be the third-highest attended sport within the WNBA this season, a very outstanding feat contemplating it doesn’t characteristic 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 bought mark the very best attendance to any sport 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 sport at TD Backyard,” she mentioned. “It’s actually particular to make historical past by internet hosting the primary ever skilled girls’s basketball sport on this area, recognized for its unimaginable basketball prowess and championship tradition. It is a super alternative to show the Connecticut Solar model by enjoying a sport extra centrally situated to our New England fan base.”

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

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

“Clearly, we’re nonetheless behind in lots of areas,” Thomas mentioned. “And it’s loopy to say that once we made the playoffs so many alternative occasions, and have gained quite a lot of basketball. We simply wish to proceed to see this develop to what it may be. And I nonetheless assume we’ve a protracted option to go.”

Subsequent, Solar gamers need their very own observe facility

Crew-specific observe amenities have develop into the gold commonplace within the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces turned the first WNBA staff to assemble a observe facility solely for their very own utilization, and the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury each adopted swimsuit shortly after. Most lately, the Chicago Sky introduced they’d 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 Follow Facility, part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Heart in Uncasville, Connecticut. The staff doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, so gamers can’t use it year-round — and since it’s a authorities facility, it doesn’t have quite a lot of the facilities knowledgeable basketball staff’s devoted area would have.

Picture by Pamela Costello/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

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 Crew USA, and being round different gamers which might be in markets which might be the staple of what you need your group to be in,” she mentioned. “Truthfully, Connecticut’s tremendous behind on the subject of that. I’ve been right here 11 years, and sure, we’ve made adjustments, however quite a lot 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 mentioned. “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 you could prepare all 12 months 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 staff. Because of this, regardless of having an extremely passionate fanbase — attendance inevitably suffers. The Solar’s common dwelling attendance is the fourth-lowest within the league at round 7,650 tickets, per Throughout the Timeline.

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

Extra eyes are coming, and once 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. Additionally they have the second-best report within the league at 18-6, and are within the combine to contend for a championship.

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