The Connecticut Sun welcomed Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever to TD Garden in Boston in front of a sold-out crowd of 19,156. The visiting Fever got the road win over the Sun, 85-77, their third consecutive victory to move to 12-10.
The Sun, who play their home games approximately 100 miles away in Uncasville, Conn., fell to 3-19 on the season. It was the second occasion Connecticut hosted a game at the home of the Boston Celtics. Last August, the team hosted the Los Angeles Sparks and won the game with Stephanie White as head coach. White returned to the Indiana Fever, a team she spent the majority of her W playing career with, and served as an assistant coach under Lin Dunn from 2011 to 2014.
Even more important than the won-loss records and the game’s outcome, was the atmosphere the Fever created by visiting TD Garden, and yes, many fans cheered on Clark and the Fever. Boston is a city often mentioned for WNBA expansion, whether it be a new franchise or the Sun potentially relocating.
White called the city of Boston “a sports town” when being asked about how meaningful it was for fans to experience a game involving the Indiana Fever at TD Garden.
What’s the possibility of Boston having a W team?
Clark, who finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists while playing 28 minutes and was visibly nursing an upper leg injury, mentioned in pregame the Boston Celtics have a rich history and a franchise legacy that the team has built over the years.
The Celtics, one of the NBA’s eight original teams, won their 18th championship in franchise history in the 2024 NBA Finals, led by Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
“The Celtics are one of the premier organizations of the NBA,” Clark said pregame. “You always grow up knowing what the Celtics are about, and having won a championship two years ago now, it’s cool to be in this building and surround yourself with the greatness that has played in this arena over the course of however many years.
“So it’s a great opportunity for people in this city or fans around the area to come and support a W team here, and I know their game last year had great attendance and great energy, so I’m expecting the same tonight. But for myself, you don’t take these opportunities for granted. It’s always fun to go to a new arena and a new place and enjoy it.”
The WNBA game in Boston sold out for the second consecutive year, marking the third sellout game for the Connecticut Sun and the third highest attendance for a regular season game this season.
“We are incredibly excited to return to TD Garden for a second year in a row,” Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti said. “The energy and enthusiasm from the New England market last season was phenomenal, and we’re proud to continue building that momentum and connecting with our New England fan base. Women’s basketball belongs on the biggest stages, and we will continue to reinforce and showcase that mission.”
With its traditions and fan base, Boston seems like a legit possibility for the W down the line.
Tina Charles points out Boston is ready for the WNBA
Connecticut Sun forward Tina Charles, who led the Sun in a losing effort with a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, mentioned in the postgame that it’s meaningful for the WNBA to receive support from current and former NBA players, such as the late Kobe Bryant. Charles stated she is impressed by the growth of the league since its inception in 1997 and brought up a memory of seeing the New York Liberty play at Madison Square Garden.
There has been connectivity between WNBA and NBA teams in the same town, as seen in the successes of the Detroit Shock and Pistons in the 2000s, and the Houston Rockets and Comets in the 1990s. The Golden State Valkyries, playing in their inaugural season, are leading the league in attendance per game at Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors.
“Just more than ready (to bring in a WNBA team to Boston),” Charles said. “And it definitely will put the pressure on other cities, of the franchises, when you see experiences such as that. For me, I was fortunate to always see that playing at Madison Square Garden. But when Kobe Bryant was around, he was the one who was starring in being an NBA figure (and) supporting women’s basketball. And then NBA players started to come out and support us as well. So I look forward to the teams that are able to be in NBA cities and have their support; it really goes a long way.”
On June 30, the WNBA announced the expansion to three cities on the East Coast, with Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia receiving teams. Next season, the league will expand to 15 teams, with the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo set to start their action. They are expected to have 18 teams by 2030.
The city of Boston seems like a natural fit for a WNBA team and will have plenty of support should the league grant the city a franchise.
