The WNBA's Connecticut Sun franchise is set to embark on a new chapter, as it has been acquired by the Fertitta family, owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets. This significant transaction, valued at approximately $300 million, will culminate in the team's relocation to Houston following its final season in Uncasville, Connecticut, in 2026. This move signifies a notable return of WNBA basketball to Houston, a city that previously hosted the Comets, one of the league's inaugural teams, from 1997 to 2008.
The news of the sale and impending relocation was initially reported by Chris Baldwin of Paper City Mag and subsequently confirmed by ESPN's Alexa Philippou, who cited sources detailing the $300 million purchase price. The Fertitta family's interest in acquiring and moving the team had been a subject of "substantive talks" with the WNBA since December, as reported by Philippou and Ramona Shelburne. The Connecticut Sun's journey began in 2003 when the Mohegan Tribe acquired and moved the team from Orlando to Uncasville, where it has remained since.
The possibility of the team's sale has been a recurring discussion point for nearly a year. Last August, Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the Boston Celtics, confirmed his earlier attempt to purchase the Sun and relocate it to Boston. Pagliuca had reportedly secured a deal with the Mohegan Tribe for $325 million, with an additional $100 million earmarked for the team's relocation and the development of new training facilities. However, former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry subsequently matched Pagliuca's offer, expressing his willingness to keep the team in Connecticut, albeit with a move from Uncasville to Hartford, as reported by CT Insider.
Ultimately, the WNBA blocked Pagliuca's proposed deal, emphasizing that the Board of Governors holds the authority to determine team relocations, not individual teams. Throughout these discussions, Houston emerged as the WNBA's "preferred landing spot" for a new franchise. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert had openly expressed her desire to see a team in Houston, stating that the city was "up next when it comes to the timeline for evaluating bids." Despite the swirling rumors, Sun players maintained their focus on the season, acknowledging that the decision was beyond their control and rested with higher authorities within the WNBA. Guard Marina Mabrey commented on the transparency of the Sun's front office while reiterating the team's commitment to the current season, which she believed would remain unaffected by the ongoing sale process.
The WNBA is currently navigating a busy six-week period, following the agreement of a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and its players' union earlier this month. This packed schedule includes an expansion draft on April 3 for new teams in Portland and Toronto, followed by the standard WNBA draft on April 13. The free agency period is also anticipated to commence in early April. The Sun is scheduled to play a preseason game in Toronto on April 29, before hosting the New York Liberty for another preseason matchup on May 3. The team's final home opener at Mohegan Sun is set for May 10, when they will face the Seattle Storm. Last season, the Connecticut Sun finished fifth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-33, ranking among the league's lower-performing teams.
