Discussions are underway regarding the potential purchase and relocation of the Connecticut Sun by the ownership of the Houston Rockets, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. The talks, described as “positive,” have seen the Rockets improve their financial offer, which is now at a figure the Sun might consider acceptable. While a formal proposal has been discussed, no exclusivity agreement has been signed, and a decision on the future of the franchise remains pending.
The WNBA has expressed a clear interest in a return to Houston. During the league’s three-team expansion announcement in June, commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically mentioned Houston and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as a priority for future franchise expansion. The Sun have been under the ownership of the Mohegan Tribe since 2003 when they relocated from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut.
Financial Dynamics of the Potential Sale
If the sale proceeds, it would signify a growing trend within the WNBA towards having more teams owned by NBA franchises. The Sun initiated a process over a year ago to explore investment options, initially considering a limited partnership sale to help fund infrastructure improvements. Earlier in 2023, Houston was among the interested parties aiming to acquire the Sun, ultimately increasing their bid to $250 million. This amount matches the expansion fee recently paid by teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
In early 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. However, the WNBA intervened, asserting that relocation decisions are governed by the league’s Board of Governors and that cities with existing expansion processes take precedence over Boston. The league then proposed purchasing the Sun for $250 million, which would facilitate a sale to a more favorable market. Speculation arose that the league was eyeing Houston as a new home for the Sun after the city was overlooked for expansion.
Future Uncertainty and Free Agency Considerations
Recently, Sun ownership has explored an opportunity involving state-affiliated funds from Connecticut to acquire a minority stake in the franchise. However, progress on these discussions has reportedly slowed. The aim is to establish clarity regarding the franchise’s future prior to the WNBA’s free agency period, during which nearly all veteran players will be available for contract negotiations. The exact timing for free agency remains uncertain as the league and the players’ union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, with a deadline set for January 9, 2024.
The Houston Comets, the city’s former WNBA franchise, were a historic team that won the league’s first four championships from 1997 to 2000. The Comets were home to legendary players like Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson before the franchise disbanded in 2008. The potential re-establishment of a WNBA team in Houston has generated considerable interest among fans eager to see women’s basketball return to the city.