Fertitta in Advanced Talks to Buy, Relocate Sun to Houston

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is in advanced discussions to purchase the Connecticut Sun and relocate the WNBA franchise to Houston, potentially reviving professional women's basketball in the city after a 17-year absence. The talks, described as positive by sources close to the negotiations, involve an improved offer exceeding $250 million, though no exclusivity agreement has been signed and no final decision has been reached.

The potential deal comes amid the Sun's ongoing search for new ownership. The team, currently owned by the Mohegan Tribe since its 2003 relocation from Orlando to Uncasville, Connecticut, has been exploring a sale for months. In May, Sun officials hired investment bank Allen & Company to facilitate the process. The franchise plays in the league's smallest media market and posted an 11-33 record in 2025, its third-worst finish. A resolution is hoped for before WNBA free agency, though the timing remains uncertain due to ongoing negotiations between the league and players' union on a new collective bargaining agreement, with a deadline of January 9, 2026.

If finalized, the sale could be completed as early as early 2026, allowing the team to begin...