WNBA's Connecticut Sun Sold to Fertitta Family, Bringing Houston Comets Back to Life
The Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold to the Fertitta family, who will bring the WNBA back to Houston. The team was purchased for a record-breaking $300 million and will play its final season in Uncasville, Connecticut in 2026 before relocating to Houston in 2027. The franchise is expected to use the iconic Comets name, paying homage to the Houston Comets, a former WNBA team that won four consecutive championships from 1997-2000. The WNBA has shown interest in returning to Houston, with league commissioner Cathy Engelbert highlighting the city and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as potential partners.
The sale of the Sun to Rockets ownership is part of a trend in the WNBA towards having more teams with NBA owners. The Sun have been owned by the Mohegan tribe since 2003 when they bought and relocated the franchise from Florida to Uncasville. The team had explored investment options in 2024, initially seeking a limited partnership sale to fund infrastructure development. A previous deal to sell the team for $325 million to a group led by former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca was blocked by the WNBA, emphasizing that relocation decisions are made by the league's Board of Governors.
The move to sell the Sun franchise to the Fertitta family marks an exciting new chapter for the team and the WNBA. With the team set to relocate to Houston in 2027 and carry on the legacy of the Comets, fans can look forward to a revitalized presence of women's basketball in the city. The partnership between the Fertitta family and the WNBA signals a promising future for the league and its expansion efforts.