Connecticut Sun Sets Plans to Move to Houston by 2027
The Connecticut Sun have agreed to sell their franchise to Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, for $300 million. The team is set to relocate to Houston and reclaim its name as the Comets in 2027, as confirmed by a source close to the deal. The source spoke on the condition of anonymity, as the agreement has not yet been publicly announced.
Approval from the WNBA Board of Governors is required for both the sale and the team’s move. The Sun will continue to play in Connecticut for the upcoming season.
This decision marks the end of a 23-year tenure for the Sun in New England, where the franchise originally relocated from Orlando in 2003. Houston had previously expressed interest in acquiring the team, increasing its bid to $250 million, a figure that matched the expansion fees paid by Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. The $300 million sale price is now the highest recorded for a team in WNBA history.
Although the Sun received a competing offer of $325 million from a group led by Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, the WNBA intervened to block this deal. The league emphasized that relocation decisions are determined by the Board of Governors and not by individual teams, noting that prior expansion teams had established priority over Boston.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert indicated that Houston would be next in line for expansion during a recent press conference announcing new teams. Since Mark Davis acquired the Las Vegas Aces in 2021, numerous new owners with NBA affiliations have joined the league, including ownership groups for the upcoming Portland and Toronto teams.
The recent agreement aligns with the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, which mandates that teams maintain facilities comparable to those of NBA franchises. The timing of the transaction provides clarity for potential free agents considering commitments with the Sun in the upcoming offseason.
Historically, the Houston Comets were one of the original franchises in the WNBA, clinching four consecutive championships from 1997 to 2000 before the franchise disbanded after the 2008 season. The Las Vegas Aces were the last team to relocate, moving from San Antonio in 2017.
