Connecticut Sun reach deal to move team to Houston in 2027

The Connecticut Sun have reached an agreement to promote the workforce to Rockets proprietor Tilman Fertitta for a document $300 million, in accordance with an individual accustomed to the deal, and can transfer to Houston in 2027.

The WNBA Board of Governors nonetheless must approve the sale and the transfer.

The individual spoke to The Related Press on situation of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the sale.

The workforce will play in Connecticut for the upcoming season earlier than transferring to Houston and changing into the Comets once more.

“I might have beloved to stay within the area for our fan base and for the truth that I feel this area deserves a girls’s basketball workforce,” Connecticut Solar president Jen Rizzotti instructed the AP. “On the identical time, it wasn’t my determination and I’m at some extent now the place my focus turns to creating this one of the best season we are able to have and a memorable one for our followers. It’s a possibility to say thanks to them.”

This may finish a 23-year run by the workforce in New England after the workforce moved to Connecticut from Orlando in 2003.

Houston was one of many teams that expressed curiosity in shopping for the workforce final yr, ultimately elevating its bid to $250 million — the quantity Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia paid for growth charges. Now with the $300 million sale worth, that’s the very best for which a workforce has been bought in WNBA historical past.

The Solar had a suggestion for $325 million from a gaggle led by Celtics minority proprietor Steve Pagliuca that might have moved the franchise to Boston. The WNBA mainly blocked that deal from occurring by saying that “relocation selections are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and never by particular person groups.”

The league additionally went on to say that different groups had gone by the growth course of and had precedence over Boston.

“This determination has all the time sat on the possession degree and we labored exhausting as a entrance workplace to make us New England’s WNBA workforce,” Rizzotti stated. “Taking part in and promoting out two video games in Boston reveals it is a market that may help a workforce at a major degree.”

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stated throughout a information convention to announce the three new growth groups that Houston was up subsequent.

Since Mark Davis purchased the Las Vegas Aces in 2021, the league has added new house owners which have some type of NBA tie. Golden State, which got here into the league final season, is owned by the Warriors. Portland and Toronto are coming into the WNBA this season and the possession teams are linked to NBA groups.

The following three growth groups — Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia — are all owned by NBA teams in these cities.

The WNBA simply agreed to a brand new collective bargaining settlement final week the place groups must have top-notch amenities just like these of NBA franchises.

Saying the deal now permits the franchise to have readability for potential free brokers who might signal with the Solar subsequent month.

“Morgan (Tuck) began final off season with the rebuild after our outdated roster turned over,” Rizzotti stated of the Solar normal supervisor. “She is going to now have readability and strategic selections regardless the place it’s if we remained in Connecticut or transferring. With this new CBA in place, she will actually consider the wage cap state of affairs and construct across the younger core we established.”

The Houston Comets have been one of many authentic franchises within the league that gained the primary 4 WNBA championships from 1997-2000. The franchise disbanded after the 2008 season.

“My household and I are thrilled for the chance to deliver the Houston Comets again to this unimaginable metropolis,” Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta stated. “Houston has a proud championship historical past within the WNBA, with banners from the Comets’ 4 historic championship seasons nonetheless hanging within the rafters of Toyota Middle. We consider the time is true to start the following nice period of Comets basketball, and we stay up for working with the WNBA as we transfer by this course of.”

The final WNBA workforce to maneuver cities was the Las Vegas Aces, who relocated from San Antonio in 2017.

“What I don’t need individuals to neglect is the Mohegan Tribe stepped up when no one wished a WNBA workforce and there have been NBA house owners folding franchises left and proper,” Rizzotti stated. “I hope that no matter individuals’s emotions round this, they’ll keep in mind that we had a very supportive possession group that poured into the franchise for over 20 years.

“The choice they made now doesn’t erase the actual fact they have been there for the WNBA in a time of want and stored them going when it wasn’t as standard as it’s now to have a franchise.”