Indiana Fever’s big announcement places stress on different WNBA groups

The Indiana Fever introduced on Thursday they may formally be constructing a $78 million, 108-square-foot observe facility in downtown Indianapolis. The power — which will likely be prepared forward of the 2027 season — will embrace two courts, a weight room, a first-class restoration, an outside courtyard, and extra.

The Fever, contemporary off their first postseason look since 2017, will likely be led by a younger core headlined by Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston subsequent season, in addition to a famend new head coach, Stephanie White. Now, they’ve stuffed in the remainder of the puzzle — revealing that gamers will have the ability to make the most of top-tier facilities quickly sufficient, too.

The transfer places additional stress on WNBA groups who don’t have their very own observe services to enhance their state of affairs so as to have the ability to entice and retain free brokers. This winter, star gamers like Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum, and Kelsey Mitchell are all free brokers who will nearly undoubtedly issue services and assets into their decision-making.

Solely 4 of 13 WNBA groups — the Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and Golden State Valkyries — at present have their very own observe services.

The Aces unveiled their 64,000-square-foot observe facility forward of the 2023 season. The $40 million facility consists of two basketball courts, weight rooms, coaching rooms, a movie room, a participant lounge, a household room, locker rooms, cold and hot plunge swimming pools, an infrared sauna, cryotherapy, a vitamin bar, and extra.

Shortly after, the Storm unveiled a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot facility, and the Mercury unveiled a $100 million, 58,000-square-foot facility in downtown Phoenix this previous summer season. The Valkyries’ facility was constructed earlier than their official addition to the WNBA subsequent season.

On the identical time, 5 groups — the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, and now the Fever — have plans for their very own observe services.

The Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, and New York Liberty are all on monitor for their very own services by 2026. The Sky introduced they might construct a brand-new efficiency heart in July, a $38-million facility bigger than 40,000 sq. ft. That got here after years of working towards on the Sachs Recreation Heart, a public facility that doesn’t belong to the Sky.

The Wings, in the meantime, are planning to relocate from Arlington, Texas to Dallas. Wings CEO Greg Bibb has shared that that transfer will include the workforce getting their very own observe facility, although restricted particulars have been shared: “We’re making a observe facility that’s on par with any NBA facility on the market.”

The Sparks introduced in November they’ll be constructing a brand new observe facility, although there’s nonetheless no timetable for its building.

The Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics share observe services with their NBA counterparts

The Lynx share a observe facility with the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Courts at Mayo Heart, and have their very own courtroom, locker room, and coaching areas. This facility started to be constructed in 2014.

The Washington Mystics observe on the MedStar Well being Efficiency Heart, an area they share with the Washington Wizards. Gamers have 24/7 entry to the services and get to learn from NBA assets.

Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Solar haven’t any identified plans for brand new observe services

The one two groups within the WNBA who neither have their very own facility nor plans for their very own facility are the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Solar.

The Solar practices on the Tribal Apply Facility, part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Heart in Uncasville, Connecticut. The workforce doesn’t have unique entry to the power, so gamers can’t use it year-round. The power additionally lacks lots of the facilities an expert basketball workforce’s devoted house would have.

There have been a number of high-profile situations of the Solar being kicked out of the power in favor of neighborhood occasions; for instance, throughout the first spherical of the playoffs towards the Fever, they needed to share the courtroom with a toddler’s celebration. Longtime Solar veteran Alyssa Thomas has blasted the observe facility on quite a few events, calling the present association “the last word disrespect.”

The Atlanta Dream practices on the Core4 Athletic Complicated, a facility constructed by former NBA participant Paul Millsap. The power is skilled — it has a number of observe courts, a weight room, saunas, and many others — however it’s not particularly theirs, and it’s about 23 miles from Gateway Heart, the place the workforce performs.

What the Fever announcement means

As groups look to lure high free brokers this offseason, their observe services and facilities will in the end issue into consideration. That places groups just like the Solar and the Dream at a comparative drawback, whereas groups just like the Aces and Mercury can already provide world-class services. Every time one other WNBA workforce unveils these kind of plans, additional stress is positioned on different WNBA groups who lag behind on this entrance.