The WNBA, the professional women's basketball league, awarded a team to Connecticut in 2003. The Connecticut Sun, owned and operated by the Mohegan Sun, made history by becoming not only the first team in New England but the first that is not owned by an NBA team and not located in an NBA market. The NBA Board of Governors voted in the fall of 2002 to restructure the WNBA to allow individual, non-NBA owners and to allow teams to be located in non-NBA markets.
Why was Connecticut chosen as the site for the relocating Orlando Miracle? The likely answer is the state's long-standing support and enthusiasm for women's basketball at the college level. UConn women's basketball fans are, well, fanatics, and their loyalty to their team is nationally known. The WNBA, which employs several former Huskies, hopes to capitalize on that fervor. Former UConn stars Tina Charles, Asjha Jones, Kalana Greene, Renee Montgomery and Jessica Moore will don Connecticut Sun uniforms when the team opens its 2012 season on May 19 (pre-season games begin May 7).
In a press release announcing the team's new home, WNBA President Val Ackerman said, "The WNBA is thrilled to be bringing professional basketball to a state that perhaps more than any other epitomizes what women's basketball can be--competitive, exciting and supported by knowledgeable and loyal fans." Though there was some controversy over the selection of a gambling venue for the team's home playing court, the reality is that you can enter and exit the Mohegan Sun Arena without ever setting foot on a gaming floor. The state-of-the-art arena has seating for 9,700 fans, and its location draws basketball fans from not only Connecticut, but Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well.
For those who do choose to venture out into the Mohegan Sun before or after a WNBA game, multiple pleasures await including the world's largest Planetarium Dome and more than 40 shops and restaurants, including fabulous eateries such as Michael Jordan's Steak House and Jasper White's Summer Shack.
Going to a Game? Here's What You Need to Know
Schedule: Follow the Connecticut Sun with this schedule of home and away games for the 2012 season, including information on games that will be broadcast on TV.
Tickets: Individual game tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.com. To purchase season tickets or ticket mini plans, visit the Mohegan Sun Box Office or call toll free, 877-SUN-TIXX.
Mohegan Sun Casino: My Mohegan Sun travel guide features everything you need to plan your Mohegan Sun visit, including directions, information on nearby hotels and on-site lodging, restaurant listings and more.
Dining: If you plan to dine at the Mohegan Sun before or after a Connecticut Sun game, definitely make a reservation at the restaurant of your choice. There's always the food court or Geno Auriemma's Fast Break for quick bites, or the buffets are always popular if you're up for waiting in line.
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