In terms of overall media exposure, attendance and television ratings, the WNBA has made plenty of progress over the last few years. But there’s still a long ways to go as the league enters the 2024 playoffs.
That was evident in a photo shared Saturday by The Hartford Courant reporter Emily Adams, who was in attendance for the Connecticut Sun’s practice one day before Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Indiana Fever.
Adams pointed out that the Sun had to finish their practice on half of a court because they had to share the floor with an event at a local community center gym.
Just WNBA things! 24 hours before their first playoff game, the Connecticut Sun are finishing practice on a half court to share space with a community center event. pic.twitter.com/0hwKib1RLz
— Emily Adams (@eaadams6) September 21, 2024
That’s not a good look for the Sun, who entered the WNBA in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle and moved to Connecticut in 2003.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new for the Sun to deal with. Connecticut splits time practicing at its home court, Mohegan Sun Arena, and the Mohegan Tribe’s community center in Uncasville, Conn. The team has been forced to split gym time with community pick-up games, events and workout classes over the years.
That would never happen in the NBA. And frankly, it shouldn’t happen in the W.
Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti did publicly state earlier this summer that the franchise has plans to build a practice facility for the team in the near future.
Fans had plenty of reactions to seeing Connecticut’s less-than-ideal practice situation:
So wild that this is the reality of one of the best teams in the WNBA https://t.co/9eOlDgg22f
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 21, 2024
hey so this is actually insane! https://t.co/wunipQgCYy
— maddy 🍉 (@phxsunz25) September 21, 2024
This is terrible. Seattle, Vegas and Phoenix are going to land all the free agents until other teams decide to treat their players like professional athletes. https://t.co/rfUEwg9dv6
— Jesse Morrison (@morrscode_) September 21, 2024
Every WNBA team needs a practice facility by 2026.
This is sad. https://t.co/FUDicHVOWl
— Landon Thomas (@sixfivelando) September 21, 2024
Blows my mind how the owners/WNBA can’t see that sometimes they are standing in their own way. Heard a player say “I wish I could go and get shots up whenever I want” Having that option could make the play even greater across the board.
— 🏀 (@theWBBCentral) September 21, 2024
The Sun and Fever are scheduled to tip off Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at 3 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut went 3–1 against Indiana this season, although it dropped the most recent matchup 84–80 on Aug. 28.
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