The Indiana Fever introduced on Thursday they are going to formally be constructing a $78 million, 108-square-foot apply facility in downtown Indianapolis. The ability — which will probably be prepared forward of the 2027 season — will embrace two courts, a weight room, a first-class restoration, an outside courtyard, and extra.
The Fever, contemporary off their first postseason look since 2017, will probably be led by a younger core headlined by Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston subsequent season, in addition to a famend new head coach, Stephanie White. Now, they’ve stuffed in the remainder of the puzzle — revealing that gamers will be capable to make the most of top-tier facilities quickly sufficient, too.
The transfer places additional strain on WNBA groups who don’t have their very own apply amenities to enhance their state of affairs so as to have the ability to entice and retain free brokers. This winter, star gamers like Satou Sabally, Alyssa Thomas, Kelsey Plum, and Kelsey Mitchell are all free brokers who will virtually undoubtedly issue amenities and assets into their decision-making.
The Indiana Fever simply introduced they’re constructing a $78 million efficiency middle in downtown Indianapolis.
• Three flooring
• 108,000-square-feet
• Two full-length basketball courts
• Locker room, weight room, and kitchenIt is going to open earlier than the 2027 WNBA season. pic.twitter.com/vbMdcGd3Ws
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 16, 2025
Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull, talking at an Unequalled media availability on Thursday, praised the group frot he funding.
“We knew it was within the work so to see it lastly introduced to the general public — actually, actually excited,” Hull mentioned. “I believe it simply exhibits the dedication that the group and town of Indianapolis is admittedly pouring into our group. And I believe it’s going to be nice for us as gamers and be nice for our group to have the ability to entice some actually nice free brokers.”
Solely 4 of 13 WNBA groups — the Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and Golden State Valkyries — presently have their very own apply amenities.
The Aces unveiled their 64,000-square-foot apply facility forward of the 2023 season. The $40 million facility consists of two basketball courts, weight rooms, coaching rooms, a movie room, a participant lounge, a household room, locker rooms, cold and warm plunge swimming pools, an infrared sauna, cryotherapy, a diet bar, and extra.
Shortly after, the Storm unveiled a $64 million, 50,000-square-foot facility, and the Mercury unveiled a $100 million, 58,000-square-foot facility in downtown Phoenix this previous summer season. The Valkyries’ facility was constructed earlier than their official addition to the WNBA subsequent season.
On the identical time, 5 groups — the Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, and now the Fever — have plans for their very own apply amenities.
The Chicago Sky, Dallas Wings, and New York Liberty are all on monitor for their very own amenities by 2026. The Sky introduced they might construct a brand-new efficiency middle in July, a $38-million facility bigger than 40,000 sq. ft. That got here after years of training on the Sachs Recreation Middle, a public facility that doesn’t belong to the Sky.
The Wings, in the meantime, are planning to relocate from Arlington, Texas to Dallas. Wings CEO Greg Bibb has shared that that transfer will include the group getting their very own apply facility, although restricted particulars have been shared: “We’re making a apply facility that’s on par with any NBA facility on the market.”
The Sparks introduced in November they’ll be constructing a brand new apply facility, although there’s nonetheless no timetable for its building.
The Minnesota Lynx and Washington Mystics share apply amenities with their NBA counterparts
The Lynx share a apply facility with the Minnesota Timberwolves on the Courts at Mayo Middle, and have their very own courtroom, locker room, and coaching areas. This facility started to be constructed in 2014.
The Washington Mystics apply on the MedStar Well being Efficiency Middle, an area they share with the Washington Wizards. Gamers have 24/7 entry to the amenities and get to learn from NBA assets.
Atlanta Dream, Connecticut Solar haven’t any recognized plans for brand spanking new apply amenities
The one two groups within the WNBA who neither have their very own facility nor plans for their very own facility are the Atlanta Dream and Connecticut Solar.
The Solar practices on the Tribal Follow Facility, part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Middle in Uncasville, Connecticut. The group doesn’t have unique entry to the power, so gamers can’t use it year-round. The ability additionally lacks a variety of the facilities an expert basketball group’s devoted area would have.
There have been a number of high-profile cases of the Solar being kicked out of the power in favor of neighborhood occasions; for instance, in the course of the first spherical of the playoffs in opposition to the Fever, they needed to share the courtroom with a toddler’s party. Longtime Solar veteran Alyssa Thomas has blasted the apply facility on quite a few events, calling the present association “the last word disrespect.”
The Atlanta Dream practices on the Core4 Athletic Complicated, a facility constructed by former NBA participant Paul Millsap. The ability is skilled — it has a number of apply courts, a weight room, saunas, and many others — however it’s not particularly theirs, and it’s about 23 miles from Gateway Middle, the place the group performs.
What the Fever announcement means
As groups look to lure high free brokers this offseason, their apply amenities and facilities will in the end issue into consideration. That places groups just like the Solar and the Dream at a comparative drawback, whereas groups just like the Aces and Mercury can already provide world-class amenities. Every time one other WNBA group unveils these kind of plans, additional strain is positioned on different WNBA groups who lag behind on this entrance.
