Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
August 17 , 2026
INDIANAPOLIS — Sen. Mitch McConnell made an unexpected appearance at Sunday’s game between the Indiana Fever and the Atlanta Dream, drawing attention from fans seated near a private box overlooking the court.
McConnell, the longtime Kentucky Republican senator, was seen wearing a red-and-white Indiana Fever sweatshirt while holding a large beer. During several key stretches of the game, he stood to applaud baskets and appeared to cheer along with other spectators in the suite.
Neither McConnell’s office nor the Fever immediately commented on the visit. It was not clear whether he had attended as a guest of the team, the league, or a private party.
Fans posted photos and short videos of the senator to social media during the first half. Some expressed surprise at seeing him at a WNBA game; others focused on his choice of Fever apparel.
The appearance came as the Fever continue to attract heightened attendance and national interest. McConnell, who has represented Kentucky in the Senate for decades, has generally kept a lower public profile outside political events in recent years.
During a timeout late in the second quarter, several people in the surrounding section turned toward the suite as McConnell raised his drink and joined in applause. The game continued without an on-court acknowledgment of the senator’s attendance.
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