The Connecticut Sun, one of the top teams in the WNBA this season and the third seed in the playoffs, had to share their practice facility with a toddler’s birthday party.
The news comes from comments made by Sun forward Alyssa Thomas when she spoke to The Next Hoops.
“It’s normal at this point. I mean, Mohegan has to do better,” Thomas said according to the outlet. “We’re [a] professional team. We’re competing for playoffs. And yeah, to have to share your court with a two-year-old[‘s] birthday party, [it’s the] ultimate disrespect.”
“We need more, we need better to compete at the highest level,” she added.
Fans of the WNBA who were outraged over players having to fly commercial prior to this season might be shocked to learn that one of the top teams can’t secure their own facility to prep for a game. A playoff game, at that.
It Didn’t Alter Their Performance Against Caitlin Clark And The Indiana Fever
I’ve gone to the local Y and seen the gym get shut down for over 40 rec leagues so they don’t have to worry about kids and stragglers getting in the way.
But the Connecticut Sun can’t get that level of respect? Wow.
To their credit, the team clearly didn’t let having to share a gym with two-year-olds affect their play. Or maybe they even used it as motivation.
The Sun secured a commanding 93-69 win over the Indiana Fever in Game 1 of their playoff series. Thomas led the way with a triple-double – 12 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds.
DiJonai Carrington delivered perhaps the most crucial unofficial assist by taking rookie Caitlin Clark out of her game by giving her a black eye.
Apparently, This Has Been A Problem For The Connecticut Sun
Sharing a gym with others appears to have been an issue for the Connecticut Sun for some time. Thomas, when the team played a game at the TD Garden in Boston, pointed out the upgrade in the facility.
“We need our own practice facility and things like that because the time is now and people want to come and stay in the cities and train like that,” Thomas told The Next Hoops.
“And not a lot of people want to stay in Connecticut and we don’t have the facilities that you could train in all year round in that aspect, so I’m excited for Boston.”
The Sun practices at the Mohegan Tribe’s gym inside the Community Center and Government Building.
Sports Illustrated reports that the team has “been forced to split gym time with community pick-up games, events and workout classes over the years.”
Former Sun player Kelsey Bone-Smith wrote on X about the squad having to practice in the presence of kids in the past.
“This brings back many memories! Imagine trying to practice and 60 6 yr olds are on the other side playing dodge ball and tag!” she wrote.
At a practice in May, coaches had to yell instructions due to music being played in a Pilates class on the other side of the gym.
The Sun faces Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on Wednesday where they have a chance to eliminate them from the playoffs.
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