Discussions regarding the potential purchase and relocation of the Connecticut Sun by the Houston Rockets ownership are reportedly progressing, according to sources close to the situation. These talks, described as “positive,” indicate that the Rockets have made an improved offer that could be acceptable to the current owners of the WNBA franchise.
While a formal offer has been on the table, no exclusivity agreement has been signed yet, and the future of the franchise remains undecided. The WNBA has expressed interest in re-establishing a presence in Houston. During a three-team expansion announcement in June, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert pointed out Houston and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as a key focus for the league’s future expansion plans.
The Sun have been under the ownership of the Mohegan Tribe since 2003, when they acquired and relocated the franchise from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut. Should the Rockets finalize the purchase, it would mark a significant trend of WNBA teams being owned by NBA franchises.
The Sun initiated a process over a year ago to explore investment opportunities, initially seeking a limited partnership sale to support infrastructure development. Earlier this year, Houston joined other interested parties in expressing a desire to buy the Sun outright, eventually raising their offer to $250 million, equivalent to the expansion fees paid by Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia earlier this year.
In July, the Sun reached an agreement to sell the team for a record $325 million to a group led by former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, which would have involved relocating the franchise to Boston. However, the WNBA effectively blocked this deal, emphasizing that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.” The league reiterated that cities that have undergone the expansion process have priority over Boston.
Following this, the WNBA offered to purchase the Sun for $250 million, enabling the league to facilitate a sale to a market of its choice. Speculation arose that the league aimed to move the Sun to Houston after the city did not receive an expansion team in June.
Recently, Sun ownership has explored the possibility of securing funds from the state of Connecticut to acquire a minority stake in the franchise. However, these discussions have reportedly slowed. The aim is to reach a resolution regarding the franchise’s future before the upcoming free agency period, during which nearly all league veterans will be available. The exact timing of free agency remains uncertain as the league and the players’ union continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, with a deadline set for January 9, 2024.
The Houston Comets, the city’s previous WNBA franchise, were an iconic team that secured the league’s first four championships from 1997 to 2000. The Comets featured some of the greatest talents in women’s basketball history, including Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson, before disbanding after the 2008 season.
As discussions continue, the potential purchase and relocation of the Connecticut Sun by the Houston Rockets could reshape the landscape of women’s professional basketball and reignite the passion for the sport in Houston.
