The Connecticut Sun has earned a small place in the National Museum of American History in Washington, DC, sharing exhibit space with seemingly unconnected items like Muhammad Ali’s boxing gloves, Jerry Seinfeld’s “puffy shirt,” Dorothy’s ruby slippers and Kermit the Frog in an exhibit called “Thanks For The Memories: Music, Sports and Entertainment History.”

The exhibit, located on the third floor of the museum’s west wing, celebrates the major role music, sports and entertainment has played in American life. The variety of items displayed – other examples include Roberto Clemente’s uniform, a Cheech and Chong record, a boom box owned by hip hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy, and props from Phyllis Diller – offer a sampling of more than a century of collecting at the Smithsonian.

“We value sports and entertainment as part of American culture and in fact think that looking at American history through popular culture is a great way to understand the American people in the past,” said Dr. Ellen Roney Hughes, a curator of the Division of Music, Sports and Entertainment History at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The ball and Nykesha Sales jersey supplied by the Connecticut Sun are in a display case titled “From Bloomers to WNBA – Women’s Basketball.” Other objects in the case include a 1920s high school basketball uniform, the 1953 AAU championship trophy, Tennessee coach Pat Summit’s whistle, Final Four programs from 1978-79 and 2001-02, and a pair of shoes signed by Rebecca Lobo.

“It’s an honor to have the Connecticut Sun included in a display at the National Museum of American History,” Connecticut Sun General Manager Chris Sienko said. “It is, essentially, recognition of the impact the WNBA has had on our society.”

The exhibition originally opened last November 21st, when the museum re-opened after two years of renovations. The exhibition is permanent, although plans exist to rotate the objects.

The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. To learn more about the museum, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu or call 202-633-1000.