This disclosure may surprise many New Englanders — I never visited the Mohegan Sun Casino until this past week. It felt good to cross an item off my New England bucket list; it was certainly much easier to achieve than camping in the woods or sailing along the cape.
No, this trip was not designed for debauchery. I was instead motivated to check out the Connecticut Sun, a staple franchise of the WNBA. The WNBA continues to reach sizeable growth benchmarks this year, including a meteoric 156% increase in ticket sales from the 2023 season. It is great to see new superstar players, like Angel Reese, Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark, infusing newfound public interest in the sport and its ensemble of talented athletes.
Before hitting the court, I took an unofficial tour of the Mohegan Sun to check out the premises and grab a bite to eat. My mouth was on the floor for much of my walkthrough. The facilities at Mohegan Sun are like a glowing shrine devoted to entertainment activities. Once you endure the marathon-long walk through the various gaming outlets, patrons are greeted by countless shops, eateries, sports lounges and a few music venues. There is even a towering waterfall that adds a pleasant scenic touch. I did not spend long in this section, but I am making a note to take a full trip with my partner soon.
Amidst countless food options, Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana became the apple of my eye. The famous New Haven pizzeria is evolving as a brand, opening several new eateries across Connecticut this year. I cannot gauge how this new location compares to the time-honored original, but I was beyond impressed with the pizza I sampled.
Frank Pepe’s imbues a distinctive mark on its humble marriage between dough, cheese and sauce. For starters, the dough exudes an almost-starchy quality, an arresting level of chewability that adds an impactful textural component. I’ve never experienced a pizza dough like it.
As for the pizza itself, it fully lived up to the rustic, New Haven-style synonymous with its namesake. I am someone who cooks pizzas at home to an almost-burnt degree because I love experiencing the gradient of crispiness that stretches across the dough. Frank Pepe’s meets this intended pizza vision to a tee. The char matches perfectly with the well-calibrated balance of cheese and aromatic sauce, and each bite packs a punch of classic Italian flavors that pizza fans will covet. My experience here excites me to check out the touchstone New Haven establishment.
Following my endless parade of pizza slices, a pretzel and mouthfuls of popcorn, I sat in my seat ready for game time. This may be a hot take for some, but I have grown to appreciate the WNBA more than the NBA.
The WNBA cultivates a no-nonsense production geared toward die-hard basketball fanatics like myself (thank you to the four people in Agawam who bestowed the moniker Matt McBuckets upon me during my playing days). There are a few fun stadium theatrics, like cheerleading dance routines and fanatic fanfare, yet the spotlight remains centered on the swerving dribble moves, nitty-gritty defense and skilled fundamentals that make basketball a beautiful game to watch. In contrast, the NBA continues to devolve into a soap opera, a TMZ-driven enterprise where trades, disgruntled players and sensationalized stories receive more attention than the sport itself.
The Connecticut Sun’s home, Mohegan Sun Arena, is an intriguing outlet. The ratty seats brought me back to sitting in a middle school assembly, while the decor and atmosphere radiated a generic aroma. Still, the intimate seating makes every view ideal. I also credit the Sun team for fostering a fun environment without straining for forced exuberance. The fans were incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the game without veering into the carnival barking behaviors other New England fanbases participate in.
The game itself was exhilarating. DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas displayed their veteran tenacity. Brionna Jones dominated with the refined post-game of classic centers like David Robinson, and the Sun’s young core even made a few spotlight plays off the bench. The Suns throttled off an explosive fourth-quarter run to make it close before the dynamic Jewell Lloyd of the Seattle Storm calmly closed the game out. Like most fans, I blame the loss on the referees more than anything!
Seeing the WNBA evolve into a beloved commodity brings me great joy. I hope sports fans across New England consider cheering the Connecticut Sun on at Mohegan Sun Arena ahead of the playoffs at the end of September.
