A scheduling clash between two Pride Night events sparked a bigger idea: a shared jersey celebrating Connecticut teams and their sporting history. The CT Sports Proud collection brings five professional clubs together through a quilt-inspired design, while its organisers hope the collaboration can help teams coordinate future celebrations and give fans a common banner to rally behind.
A Pride Night clash sparked a shared idea
A double-booking put the Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus in a difficult spot: it was due to sing the national anthem at Pride Night games for both Hartford Athletic and the Connecticut Sun in June 2025. John Vincent Pica-Sneeden, executive director of the Connecticut Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and a chorus member, saw a chance to turn that scheduling snag into something constructive.
Rather than let the two celebrations compete for attention, Pica-Sneeden helped bring Connecticut teams together around a shared message. The result was CT Sports Proud, a jersey and T-shirt collection developed with the Hartford Athletic, Hartford Yard Goats, Hartford Wolf Pack, Bridgeport Islanders, Connecticut Sun and CTGLC.
The jersey tells a Connecticut sports story
The design draws on the state’s colours and emblem, with a pattern inspired by Connecticut’s quilting tradition. Stadium and arena imagery adds a sense of place, while the words “CT Sports Proud” make the message plain: fans can back their own teams and still share a broader Connecticut identity.
There’s plenty to look at beyond the main design. The three stars in “CT” honour the Hartford Whalers, Connecticut Defenders and New Haven Ravens, while “1874” nods to the beginnings of professional sport in Hartford. The five additional stars stand for the active teams involved in the collaboration.
That date has a sporting history behind it. The Yankee Institute’s account of Connecticut baseball traces the Hartford Dark Blues to 1874, offering context for the number’s place on the jersey.
A blank patch space makes room for every fan
One practical detail gives the design a personal touch: there’s an empty space where fans can add patches representing their favourite Connecticut teams. It’s a small invitation to make the garment your own, rather than treating it as a badge for just one club.
The collection’s organisers describe it as a broader partnership, with hopes of coordinating Pride Nights and other heritage-month celebrations. That aim gives the jersey a job beyond the stands: it’s meant to support more joined-up planning and encourage community participation.
Connecticut teams, with a changing line-up
The CTGLC page identifies five teams as active in 2026, but the wider sporting picture is shifting. The WNBA announced that the Connecticut Sun would relocate to Houston from the 2027 season, while remaining in Connecticut for 2026.
Hartford’s other teams bring their own histories to the shared design. The American Hockey League says the Wolf Pack have played in Hartford since 1997 and that their affiliation with the New York Rangers has been extended through the 2028–29 season. So the jersey’s stars bring together teams with different timelines, but a common Connecticut connection.
Where to find the CT Sports Proud collection
The original article says the jersey and T-shirt are available through the CTGLC Store and Hartford Athletic Apparel Shop. Hartford Athletic’s online shop offers branded clothing, including an inclusion-themed Pride Emblem T-shirt, though its catalogue is separate from the detailed account of how CT Sports Proud was created.
If you’re looking for the specific collection, check the CTGLC store or the club shop directly. Retail listings can change, so it’s worth confirming what’s available before you set your heart on a particular style.
The organisers’ hope is for a “wave of blue” at games across Connecticut. It’s an appealingly simple image: different team colours and loyalties, with one shared reason to show up.
Closing Line
The jersey’s best idea may be the simplest: celebrate your team, and leave room for everyone else.
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