Discussions are underway between the ownership of the Houston Rockets and the Connecticut Sun regarding the potential acquisition and relocation of the WNBA franchise. According to ESPN, these talks are described as “positive,” with the Rockets reportedly increasing their offer to a figure that the Sun may find acceptable. While a formal proposal has been discussed, the parties have not yet signed an exclusivity agreement, and no final decision has been made about the franchise’s future.
The WNBA has previously expressed significant interest in re-establishing a team in Houston. During a league announcement in June, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically mentioned Houston and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta as “up next” for potential expansion. The Sun have been under the ownership of the Mohegan Tribe since 2003, when they relocated from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut.
Recent Developments in Franchise Ownership
The potential sale of the Sun represents a growing trend within the WNBA towards franchises being owned by NBA teams. Over a year ago, the Sun initiated a process to explore investment opportunities, initially considering a limited partnership sale to fund infrastructure improvements. Earlier in 2023, Houston emerged as a potential buyer, eventually increasing its offer to $250 million, matching the expansion fees paid by Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia earlier this year.
In early July, Sun ownership reached an agreement to sell the team to a group led by former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca for a record $325 million, which included plans to relocate the franchise to Boston. However, the WNBA intervened, asserting that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.” The league emphasized that cities that have undergone the expansion process would have priority over Boston, effectively blocking the deal.
The WNBA subsequently offered to buy the Sun for $250 million, which would allow the league to facilitate a sale to a market of its choice. Speculation arose that the league was looking to move the Sun to Houston, especially after the city did not receive an expansion team in June.
Future Considerations and League Dynamics
Recently, discussions have also emerged regarding the possibility of using funds affiliated with the state of Connecticut to acquire a minority stake in the franchise. However, these talks have reportedly slowed. There is a sense of urgency, as stakeholders hope to resolve the franchise’s future before the start of free agency, which is complicated by ongoing negotiations between the league and the players’ union over a new collective bargaining agreement. The deadline for that deal is set for January 9, 2024.
The Houston Comets, the original franchise in Houston, won the league’s first four championships from 1997 to 2000 and featured legendary players like Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson. The disbandment of the Comets in 2008 left a significant gap in the Houston sports landscape, making the prospect of bringing back a WNBA team particularly appealing to local fans and league executives alike.
As the situation evolves, the potential relocation of the Sun could reshape the WNBA’s landscape, bringing renewed attention and investment to women’s basketball in Houston.
