Connecticut Sun sold to Houston ownership with plans to revive vintage Comets franchise

The GIST: On Friday, the Mohegan Tribe — the longtime ownership group of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun — reportedly sold the team to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and family for a record $300M. The move solidified months of speculation that the W would steer the sale toward Houston after the league reportedly denied Boston’s even higher bid for $325M.

• While missing out on one of the nation’s top sports markets puzzled many, especially after historic W crowds at TD Garden, Houston does have a lot to offer, including a nostalgic brand that few other WNBA bids can top. Like a comet pulled from orbit.

The context: Sun president Jen Rizzotti has been vocal about wanting to keep the team in New England and serve the fanbase it’s developed there for 23 years. So when Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca offered $325M for the team last year, it seemed a likely move. But the league shut down the sale, preferring groups that went through the formal bid process ahead of Boston.

• WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert previously said Houston was next after granting expansion teams to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, which will all debut in later seasons. For now, the Sun will remain in Uncasville, CT, through the 2026 season and will relocate to Houston in 2027.

• In addition to wanting cities to submit formal bids, the W seems to prefer ones backed by NBA ownership — such has been the case in the Bay Area, Toronto, Portland, and the three aforementioned markets. All have wealthy and experienced owners who can support the clause in the recently-ratified CBA requiring all WNBA teams to have elite facilities.

The city: Beyond Fertitta’s NBA resources, the nation’s fourth-largest city has much to offer women’s sports franchises. The NWSL’s Houston Dash has been there since 2014, while the McNair family — who helm the NFL’s Houston Texans — spearheaded the purchase of LOVB Houston last November. What’s more, 60% of residents are enthusiastic about hosting a W team.

• Houston offers another selling point: A chance to revive the Houston Comets franchise, the league’s earliest dynasty boasting the era’s best ballers. Residents express civic pride in the Comets’ prior success, and this fan buy-in combined with NBA–level resources (including the team’s new Toyota Center home) made Houston a very attractive option.

Zooming out: In its 30-year history, the W has seen its share of ups and downs, with many teams moving and others, like the Comets, disbanding. Today, things are different: Everyone is banking on league expansion, and cities are lining up and waving millions to join the club. And for a handful of cities, there’s a unique opportunity to feed into sports nostalgia by resurrecting a franchise.

• This is what Portland did with its brand rollout last summer, a move that was ultimately successful: The Fire leads the league in new ticket sales. As in Portland, Houstonians are hyped to have their team back — and so are Detroiters who might be in for a shock. Electrifying.