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 as a result of being primarily based within the league’s smallest market in Uncasville, Connecticut, they’ve usually been missed.

Subsequent week, that’s going to vary — no less than 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 bought out, the staff 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 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 recreation in franchise historical past.

Solar President Jen Rizzotti expressed her pleasure in an announcement launched on Friday.

“We’re thrilled with the reception from the Boston marketplace for our recreation at TD Backyard,” she stated. “It’s really particular to make historical past by internet hosting the primary ever skilled girls’s basketball recreation on this area, identified for its unbelievable basketball prowess and championship tradition. This can be a great alternative to show the Connecticut Solar model by taking part in 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 development greater than the Solar. Connecticut has the highest all-time profitable share in WNBA historical past — having received 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 latest WNBA staff that doesn’t also 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 numerous basketball. We simply wish to proceed to see this develop to what it may be. And I nonetheless suppose we’ve got an extended technique to go.”

Subsequent, Solar gamers need their very own follow facility

Staff-specific follow services have turn into the gold customary within the WNBA. The Las Vegas Aces turned the first WNBA staff to assemble a follow facility solely for their very own utilization, and the Seattle Storm and Phoenix Mercury each adopted go well with shortly after. Most not too long ago, the Chicago Sky introduced they might be constructing their personal state-of-the-art facility.

There’s additionally a slew of groups that share follow services 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 follow on the Tribal Follow Facility, part of the Mohegan Neighborhood and Authorities Middle 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 numerous the facilities an expert basketball staff’s devoted area would have.

Photograph by Pamela Costello/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

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 taking part in on Staff 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 stated. “Truthfully, Connecticut’s tremendous behind relating to that. I’ve been right here 11 years, and sure, we’ve made modifications, however numerous issues nonetheless have a lot room for enchancment.”

Having their very own follow facility is of explicit significance.

“With how basketball is shaking up and fewer gamers are going abroad, we want our personal follow facility and issues like that,” Thomas stated. “The time is now, and folks wish to come and keep within the cities and practice like that, and never lots of people wish to keep in Connecticut, and we don’t have the services that you would be able to practice 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 staff. 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.

Taking part in a single common season recreation at TD Backyard isn’t 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 the moment 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.

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