Connecticut Sun Sold for $300M, Relocating to Houston

The Fertitta family, owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has agreed to purchase the WNBA's Connecticut Sun for $300 million and relocate the franchise to Houston ahead of the 2027 season, according to multiple reports from Friday. The team will play its final season in Connecticut in 2026 before the move, ending a 23-year presence in the state.

The deal, which requires approval from the WNBA Board of Governors, marks a record price for a WNBA franchise. Tilman Fertitta, the Rockets' principal owner, led the bid after Houston's earlier attempt to secure an expansion team fell short. The league recently awarded expansion franchises to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia, each for $250 million in fees. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicated the Fertittas raised their offer to match that level before finalizing the $300 million agreement with the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun's current owners.

The Sun, originally the Orlando Miracle, relocated to Uncasville, Connecticut, in 2003 under Mohegan Tribe ownership. The franchise has built a reputation for competitive play, reaching the WNBA Finals four times—in 2004, 2005, 2019, and 2022—but has yet to win a championship. Last...