Connecticut

Connecticut Sun hoping for some

Published

1 year ago

August 20, 2024

BOSTON — History will be made Tuesday night in Boston, when the Connecticut Sun host the Los Angeles Sparks in the first-ever WNBA game at TD Garden. Both teams will take the floor in front of a sellout crowd at the Garden, which will be the biggest home crowd ever for a Connecticut Sun “home” game.

“I’ve been to Celtics games and seen it full. We just haven’t experienced that, so it will be fun and special,” Connecticut guard DiJonai Carrington said after the team’s morning shootaround. “I know it’s going to be rocking here.”

“We’ve been here to watch the Celtics and seen how crazy it gets. But we’ve never been the ones on the court with the fans cheering for us,” said forward DeWanna Bonner. “I can’t wait to experience how loud it’s going to be. We’re not going to be taking it for granted.”

The Sun have felt right at home since arriving in Boston on Monday, and they’ll feel right at home Tuesday night. The 19,156 tickets sold by Connecticut mark the sixth sellout for the team this season. It’s the third highest attendance for a WNBA game this season.

The TD Garden floor hasn’t seen professional basketball since June 17, when the Celtics finished off the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals for the franchise’s 18th championship. But there won’t be much green on the floor on Tuesday, as the parquet now has shades of orange and blue, the colors of the home-team Sun.

The Sun are also hoping that they can bring some of the Celtics’ championship mojo back to Connecticut.

“It’s a huge honor. I’m looking in all the closets in all the rooms to see what I can find here,” Bonner said of playing at the TD Garden. “Hopefully we can get some of that championship energy and the vibes rub off onto us.”

The Sun enter Tuesday night’s matchup at 19-7 on the season, good for the second-best record in the WNBA. They’ll likely hear some “Beat LA” chants as they look to get the best of the 6-21 Spark.

The Sun want to be New England’s team

That the team from Uncasville, Connecticut is drawing a sellout crowd at TD Garden is just another sign that the WNBA’s popularity is through the roof. Sun players even had a tough time walking down the Boston streets, as Bonner was stopped by fans as she tried to buy a morning smoothie.

“It’s insane the different type of atmosphere here in Boston,” she said. “We love our fans in Connecticut, but here we can’t even walk down the street.”

The 36-year-old Bonner remembers a time when WNBA teams were giving tickets away in hopes of drawing a crowd. Now, she can’t even help her family get to games.

“I’m excited about it and want all our young players to take it in, but also understand that this didn’t happen overnight,” she said. “There was a time when we didn’t have anything and would walk into an empty media room.”

Nothing about the TD Garden will be empty Tuesday night. For those who aren’t familiar with the Sun, Carrington says to get ready to see a team that really makes its opponents fight for every point.

“We hang our identity on defense. We’re trying to kind of figure it out all over again with new pieces, figuring out everyone’s roles and how we mesh together. It may not look as polished as expected, but we’re going to peak at he right time in September and October,” she said. “Teams don’t want to play against us because they feel us every possession. As a unit, they’re still going to feel us defensively every possession.”

Boston doesn’t have a WNBA franchise, but Sun head coach Stephanie White hopes that Tuesday night will help solidify the Sun as New England’s team.

“It’s huge. For me, just as a basketball fan in general, to be able to step into the TD Garden. Behind the scenes, in the locker room, stepping onto the same floor as so many great players in the Celtics organization and with them coming off an NBA championship, it’s exciting,” said White.

“It’s a sellout, and we want to expand our footprint in the New England area. We want to be New England’s team,” she added. “There are going to be fans in the building who haven’t seen us yet who will be attending their first WNBA game. It’s an exciting time and continues to show that the needle has moved.”

A happy homecoming for Veronica Burton

Tuesday night will be a little extra special for Sun guard Veronica Burton, who was a star at Newton South before making her mark in the college game at Northwestern. (She is also the daughter of WBZ-TV Sports director, Steve Burton.)

Burton grew up a huge Celtics fan and said that Rajon Rondo was her favorite player. But she’s never had the chance to play on the TD Garden floor until now.

“Growing up and idolizing the players here and being able to see some championships won here, it will be really special to have my family and friends come out to support me,” Burton said Tuesday. “It’s just a surreal moment, knowing that I’m closer to home than ever before. I’ve never played here so I’m going to be soaking it in all in as much as I can.

Burton’s WNBA career started in 2022 when she was drafted seventh overall by the Dallas Wings. She was waived by Dallas in May, which paved the way for Burton to sign with Connecticut.

“It’s a dream come true and I’m grateful to be here,” she said Tuesday.

Matt Geagan

Matthew Geagan is a sports producer for CBS Boston. He has been part of the WBZ sports team for nearly 20 years. He moved over to the web in 2012 and has covered all the highs (and a few lows) in Boston sports.

Source link

Connecticut

Woman suffers life threatening injuries in Rocky Hill house fire

Published

53 minutes ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Woman suffers life threatening injuries in Rocky Hill house fire

A woman was rushed to the hospital after being seriously hurt in a fire Saturday in Rocky Hill.

This all unfolded during the late morning hours at a home on Main Street.

Fire officials say they had to rescue the woman from the home and her injuries are considered life threatening.

Hoarding conditions did a play a factor in the fire, according to the fire department.

No other injuries were reported. Further details pertaining to the fire weren’t immediately available.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Source link

Connecticut

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

Published

13 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Press Room

Twin Peaks Restaurant planning to open 3 locations in Connecticut

DALLAS (WTNH) — A New London-based group is partnering with a Texas-based restaurant planning to open its first locations in Connecticut.

New London Hospitality has signed a new area development agreement with Twin Hospitality Group Inc., the parent company of Twin Peaks Restaurant, for the development rights of three future locations in the state, according to a press release from Twin Peaks.

The release lists New Haven, Hartford, Waterbury, Danbury and Stamford or Bridgeport as potential markets.

According to the release, New London Hospitality is run by Deepak Verma and Kam Singh, who have experience in the hospitality industry and have worked with major hotel brands including Hilton, Red Roof Inn and Choice Hotels.

“Deepak and Kam bring a powerful combination of hospitality expertise and operational discipline,” Twin Peaks CEO Kim Boerema said in the release. “Their experience growing multi-unit concepts makes them ideal partners as we enter Connecticut. We are confident they will help anchor Twin Peaks as a new favorite for sports fans throughout the state.”

Twin Peaks describes itself as “the ultimate sports lodge featuring made-from-scratch food and the coldest beer in the business, surrounded by scenic views and wall-to-wall TVs. At every Twin Peaks, guests are immediately welcomed by a friendly Twin Peaks Girl and served up a menu made for MVPs.”

“Twin Peaks delivers everything guests want in a sports bar — scratch-made food, 29-degree draft beer, and the best place to catch every game,” Verma said. “We look forward to introducing the brand’s signature lodge experience and welcoming Twin Peaks girls to Connecticut, establishing a new home base for local sports fans and food enthusiasts.”

Twin Peaks was founded in 2005 in Lewisville, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There are 114 locations in the United States and Mexico. The closest location to Connecticut is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Source link

Connecticut

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

Published

1 day ago

December 19, 2025

Press Room

Road closures, crashes & flooding reported across Connecticut

CONNECTICUT (WTNH) — As Friday’s stormy weather brings strong rains and damaging winds, the Connecticut Department of Transportation and local agencies are reporting the following alerts.

Stormy Friday Weather

Note: Not every alert can be attributed to weather.

Current Traffic Alerts:

NEW HAVEN – Two-vehicle crash on Route 15 southbound between Exits 46 and 42B. The right lane is closed. Reported at 3:28 p.m.
OLD SAYBROOK – Route 154 (Main Street) closed in both directions between Willard Ave Ext. and Cromwell Ave because of tree down with wires. Reported Friday, December 19 at 2:20 pm.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed # 105 Norwich Road and Kinney Hill Road for tree in wires. Reported at 12:31 p.m.
PLAINFIELD – Route 12 closed in both directions at Arbor Lane due to a pole down in wires. Reported at 12:25 p.m.
N. STONINGTON – Route 184 (Providence New London Turnpike) closed in both directions at Rt 49 (Pendelton Hill Road) because of tree down. Reported at 12:11 p.m.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route 85 New London Road closed between Lake Hayward Road and West Road because of Wires Down. Reported at 12:04 p.m.
UNION – Route 171 closed at Route 197 and Rindge Road for a tree down in wires. Reported at 12:02 p.m.
DEEP RIVER – Route 80 (Winthrop Road) closed in both directions between Cedar Swamp Road and Bahr Road because of a tree down. Reported at 11:58 a.m.
OXFORD – Route 67 is closed at Route 42 for wires and a transformer down. Reported at 11:49 a.m.
LEBANON – Lebanon RT-207 Exeter Road is closed at Clubhouse Road because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 11:46 a.m.
NORTH BRANFORD – Route 17 northbound and southbound at the intersection of Rt 22 is closed. Utility work in area. Reported at 11:47 a.m.
BRANFORD – Localized flooding is currently occurring in multiple areas of town.
SEYMOUR – Fire officials are asking people to avoid Highland Avenue and Gilyard Street because a large tree has snapped a telephone pole. Please use alternate routes.
MIDDLETOWN – Multiple businesses without power.
EAST LYME – Route 161 (Flanders Road) closed in both directions at Society Road because of pole down with wires. Reported at 11:50 a.m.
EAST LYME – Tree down on powerlines on West Main Street, Niantic (Rte. 156) in the area of #278. Roadway is currently closed at Douglas Avenue and Four Mile intersection. Eversource has been notified. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
MANSFIELD – Route 195 is closed at Ledgewood Drive for a tree down across the road. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
GUILFORD – Route 146 Leetes Island Road closed in both directions between Wingate Road and Moose Hill Road because of a tree down with wires. Reported at 11:44 a.m.
THOMPSON – Thompson Route 193/Thompson Road is closed between Route 12/Riverside Drive and Robbins Road because of a Tree Down. Reported Friday, December 19 at 11:36 am.
COLCHESTER – Colchester Route16/Middletown Road is closed between Bigelow Road and Victoria Drive because of a tree down with wires involved. Reported at 10:45 a.m.
HARWINTON – Harwinton Route 4/Burlington Road closed between Harmony Hill Road and Route 72 Terryville Road because of a tree down with wires on the road. A fire was also reported. Reported at 9:14 a.m.