In a packed TD Garden, DiJonai Carrington directed Connecticut Sun's victory against the Los Angeles Sparks, following her public criticism of the WNBA.
The inaugural WNBA match at the renowned Garden, known for hosting epic clashes between NBA heavyweights the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, drew a crowd of 19,156 spectators. This number designated the third-highest attendance for a WNBA game this season and set a new record for the most tickets sold at a Sun game, marking the franchise's history.
Connecticut's forward Carrington, scoring 19 points in the 69-61 victory over the Sparks, expressed her sentiments to journalists. "Historically, Connecticut as a franchise gets disrespected. Sometimes, you've gotta take matters into your own hands. I think we deserved more media coverage and publicity. This game should've been a national broadcast, and fans shouldn't have to pay for access to something this monumental," she stated.
For those not stationed in Boston or LA, the second duel between the Sun and Sparks this season could be viewed via the WNBA League Pass and also streamed live on the WNBA's X, formerly known as Twitter.
Before the game, Carrington shared on X that the players needed to handle their publicity promotion themselves, tagging WNBA. CNN reached out to the league for additional commentary.
Against the Sparks, Carrington (also with four rebounds) was backed by 15 points from Brionna Jones, surpassing her 2,000-career-point milestone, and 14 points from Tyasha Harris. Leading the charge, Alyssa Thomas rounded-out the victory with nine points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists.
With a 4:15 lead remaining in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles maintained a 59-55 advantage, but Connecticut responded with a 14-2 streak, securing the 69-61 victory and extending their winning streak over the Sparks to 11 games.
Childress' team enhanced their record to 20-7 for the season, despite shooting only 38.4% from the field, while the Sparks dropped to 6-22.
Coach Stephanie White, overjoyed after the game, commented, "I'm truly grateful. Our team and players deserved this experience. We've experienced road victories, but not 19,000 home fans cheering us on, making it an unforgettable night," she stated, continuing, "It's amazing. It highlights our league's growth and the passion for women's basketball in the New England area."
The victory over the Sparks further elevated the importance of promoting women's sports, with Carrington highlighting the need for more media coverage and publicity for the WNBA. Participating in the League Pass and WNBA's X platform allowed fans worldwide to follow the game.
