In recent years, the WNBA has made significant strides in terms of media exposure, attendance, and television ratings. Yet, as the league heads into the 2024 playoffs, some glaring issues remain, particularly when it comes to the resources and facilities available to its teams.
This became evident on Saturday when Emily Adams, a reporter for The Hartford Courant, shared a striking image from the Connecticut Sun’s practice just one day before their first-round playoff matchup against the Indiana Fever. The photo, which quickly gained attention online, showed the Sun practicing on only half of a basketball court. Why? They had to share the gym at a local community center with another event.
For a team that’s been part of the league since 1999 (originally as the Orlando Miracle before relocating to Connecticut in 2003), this situation raised eyebrows. While the Sun have established themselves as one of the WNBA’s most consistent franchises, their practice conditions seem to lag far behind those of their NBA counterparts.
This isn’t an isolated incident for the Sun. Over the years, the team has frequently been forced to split practice time between their home court at Mohegan Sun Arena and the Mohegan Tribe’s community center in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Often, this means competing for gym time with local pick-up games, community events, and workout classes—a scenario unimaginable in the NBA. For many, this raises the question of fairness and professionalism in the league. WNBA players, especially those in the playoffs, should have dedicated, high-quality facilities.
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The Sun’s president, Jennifer Rizzotti, acknowledged the issue earlier this summer, assuring fans that the franchise is working on plans to build a dedicated practice facility for the team in the near future. While this is promising, the current situation remains frustrating, especially as teams gear up for high-stakes playoff games.
Fans expressed their disappointment across social media, criticizing the league and the franchise for not providing better conditions for their athletes. For many, it underscored the long journey still ahead for the WNBA in achieving full parity with men’s professional leagues, both in terms of visibility and infrastructure.
As the Sun prepare for Game 1 of their playoff series against the Fever, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at Mohegan Sun Arena, the attention has shifted from their 3-1 regular-season record against Indiana to the larger conversation about the resources WNBA teams are afforded.
Despite their success this season, including a strong run through the Eastern Conference, the Sun’s practice situation has become a talking point, adding an unexpected wrinkle to their playoff preparations.
Fans and players alike are hoping that, with continued growth in the league’s popularity, the WNBA will address these issues sooner rather than later.
