The Miami Heat asked a very simple question of its fanbase on social media. What they received in return was a very complicated answer.
"The @WNBA season is here," the post stated on X. "Which team are y'all rooting for, HEAT Nation?"
The fan reaction to the post was overwhelming. The fans were passionate about one thing.
They made it clear they do not want to root for another team from a far away city.
The fans want their own team back.
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings.
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
From 2000 through 2002, Miami had a WNBA franchise known as the Miami Sol. They played at the old Miami Arena and the Heat funded it, However, due to poor attendance and lack of publicity and fan support the team folded.
The WNBA is not the same league it was in 2000. The league has major stars and rich television contracts. The game a huge appeal to women and children who might not otherwise follow the sport.
Stars such as Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky are even more popular off the court. Their salary from the league pales in comparison to the money they earn in endorsements.
Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings will make her anticipated debut on Friday night.
Clark is so popular that her Fever team has opponents moving its home games to bigger arenas to capture the crowd which assembles to see the former Iowa Hawkeye star.
The WNBA has never been bigger or more popular.
From the sheer volume of the fan reaction to the social media posting, the fans are aching for the Heat to bring back the Sol. Some are going to want to see their own team in Miami, while others are going to want to see the WNBA in its entirety.
In answering the question, one fan simply posted the old Sol logo.
Another fan responded with, "Bring back the Sol."
One fan asked rhetorically, "Who made you post this?"
Another fan posted that he was rooting for "Bam's old lady." For those that don't know, Adebayo is dating superstar A'Ja Wilson of the Las Vegas Aces.
An Orlando Magic fan posted a picture of the old Orlando Miracle logo. The Miracle was also a WNBA team that did not make it to fruition.
There was also a fan who simply posted the Sol's mascot flying around the arena.
Some fans also took it as an opportunity to take shots at the Heat.
One fan wrote that it was time to fire Pat Riley.
There was also another fan who responded with, "Start the rebuild already, bums."