{"id":817621,"date":"2026-08-18T12:02:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:02:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/817621\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T12:02:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:02:27","slug":"boston-hosts-its-3rd-annual-wnba-game-tuesday-the-next-one-could-be-a-while","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/817621\/","title":{"rendered":"Boston hosts its 3rd-annual WNBA game Tuesday. The next one could be a while"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR’s daily morning newsletter, WBUR Today. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Today’s the 100th birthday of the North End’s favorite 24-hour bakery, Bova’s. To celebrate, they’re giving out free cannoli<\/a> (one per person) from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. \u2014 “while supplies last.” Bova’s manager John Kluse told WBUR’s John Bender they’ve allocated 700 cannoli to give away.<\/p>\n

Before you get in line on Salem Street, let’s get to the news:<\/p>\n

Sun set in Boston: The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun play their third annual \u2014 and likely last \u2014 game at TD Garden tonight. After a 23-year run, it’s the franchise’s final season in New England before they relocate to Houston next year.<\/a> (They’ll also change their name to the Comets.) The vibe is more subdued compared to last year’s sold-out game, when local officials were in a full-court press to lure the Sun to Boston<\/a>. But tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks still features several of the biggest names in women’s basketball.<\/p>\n

\tOn the court: This year, the Sun signed 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner<\/a>, who has led the WNBA in scoring and was infamously detained in Russia for 10 months<\/a> in 2022. They’ve also got former UConn star Aaliyah Edwards and Roxbury native\/Melrose High School alum Shey Peddy. (The city of Boston has even declared today Shey Peddy Day.<\/a>) On the opposing bench, the Sparks roster features veteran forward Dearica Hamby, breakout scorer Rae Burrell and 6-foot-4 Cameron Brink, who was the first pick after Caitlin Clark in the 2024 WNBA Draft. (Unfortunately, both teams are struggling in the basement of the WNBA standings<\/a>.) \tOff the court: During a podcast appearance earlier this month<\/a>, Gov. Maura Healey said she’s \u201cnot giving up\u201d on getting a local WNBA team, even after the WNBA moved the Sun to Houston over a larger bid\u00a0that would have brought the team to Boston<\/a>. “I was trying really hard last year to get the Sun,” Healey said, adding the team’s owners and players “wanted the team to come to Boston.” Healey said she doesn’t want to wait for another expansion team, which would not be until the 2030s at the earliest. But she said the WNBA pushes independently owned teams to sell to NBA owners<\/a>. “I still think there\u2019s a way to get a W team here, and we should have a W team. … People are watching these games,” Healey said. \tGoing to tonight’s game? Tipoff is at 7 p.m. \u2014 and you can still get tickets for as low as $30-ish<\/a>. The Sun is also hosting a free, public block party on Canal Street from 2-6 p.m. More details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Poll-ercoaster, I don’t say no:\u00a0The second part of this week’s WCVB\/UMass Amherst poll is out, this time with numbers of the Republican gubernatorial primary race in Massachusetts. Among likely GOP primary voters (including leaners), Mike Minogue<\/a> leads Brian Shortsleeve<\/a> by a margin of 53% to 26%, the poll found. (ICYMI: Read Gin Dumcius’ recent breakdown in our Mass. Politics newsletter<\/a> of where the two candidates stand apart on the issues.)<\/p>\n

\tUp next: The UMass poll also suggests a steep uphill fight for whichever Republican wins the Sept. 1 primary. Healey, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, had similar double-digit leads over both Minogue and Shortsleeve in hypothetical general election matchups. \tDown ballot: The poll also surveyed registered voters on all nine of this fall’s ballot questions in Massachusetts. It found that a combined 84% said they would “definitely” or “probably” vote “yes” for Question 1, the proposal to expand the state’s public records law<\/a> to the governor’s office and Legislature. The poll also found at least two-thirds had definite\/probable support for Question 4 (to implement same-day voter registration<\/a> in Massachusetts), Question 6 (to set up a state nature conservation fund<\/a>) and Question 9 (to uphold the state’s 2024 gun law<\/a>). \tGo deeper: Want to read more polling on the ballot questions, governor’s race and more? Click here<\/a> to explore the UMass poll’s top lines.<\/p>\n

P.S.\u2014 Speaking of polls, the city of Boston is putting out the call for poll workers for the Sept. 1 primary. Boston residents get a stipend ranging from $160 to $200 for the day of work, paid training and that priceless feeling of participating in democracy. Learn how to apply here<\/a>.<\/p>\n