BOSTON — There is a connection between the Connecticut Solar and the Boston Celtics regardless that the 2 franchises reside simply over 100 miles from each other.
The Solar and Celtics grew nearer Tuesday evening with Connecticut taking up TD Backyard for the primary ever WNBA sport on the venue. The Solar marked the momentous event with a 69-61 win over the Los Angeles Sparks in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 19,156.
Solar head coach Stephanie White mentioned she did not hear from anybody within the Celtics group within the lead-up to the sport, however chatted with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens, an Indiana native like White, when it was revealed in December that the WNBA can be coming to Boston.
“After I discovered we have been taking part in right here, I reached out him and was simply speaking about how excited I used to be,” White mentioned. “Definitely being up right here within the playoffs and having the ability to come to video games — the Celtics have been good to us and so they proceed to be good to us. In addition they perceive what all is concerned with getting ready a group to play. … They have been a fantastic huge brother to us in a way and we’re simply excited to have the ability to share the momentum that they made actually profitable the championship and have the ability to share this expertise.”
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The Celtics did ensure that to indicate their help as a number of gamers got here out to see the Solar draw back late with a 14-2 run and transfer to 20-7 on the season. Jayson Tatum and Jrue Vacation, each of whom are recent off profitable a gold medal on the Olympics with Workforce USA, each sat courtside to observe the motion and took footage after the sport with DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas. Rookies Baylor Scheierman and Anton Watson additionally have been in attendance.
The final time White was in TD Backyard was to observe the Celtics shut out the Dallas Mavericks in Sport 5 within the NBA Finals two months in the past. She mentioned she received to partake within the celebration that evening, and Tuesday was a trigger for extra celebration along with her group this time entrance and middle and the Celtics watching from the stands.
“It was extremely strolling on the market,” White mentioned. “After they have been doing our intro video, I actually had tears in my eyes. … I like this sport, I like this league. If you’ve been part of it in quite a lot of alternative ways to have these unimaginable moments, it means lots.
“In fact as you age, you acknowledge the second somewhat bit greater than typically if you’re youthful. It is one thing I will by no means forgot. I hope our gamers do not both.”
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