Fertitta family agree record $300m deal to buy and relocate Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold to the Fertitta family for a record $300m (£238m) to bring the WNBA back to Houston in 2027.
An official announcement confirming the historic purchase is expected on Monday.
The team will play their final season at their current home in Uncasville during the 2026 campaign before making the transition to Texas.
Reviving an iconic basketball brand
Sources indicate the newly relocated franchise is expected to adopt the Comets name.
This decision harkens back to the original Houston Comets, an iconic founding member of the league.
The legendary Texas side dominated the early years of the competition, securing four consecutive championships between 1997 and 2000.
Returning to the city has been a clearly stated priority for the WNBA over recent years.
During an expansion announcement last June, the league made its geographical intentions clear.
Houston and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta are up next and the one we have our eye on.
Cathy Engelbert, WNBA Commissioner
Expanding the NBA ownership model
This landmark agreement marks a further shift towards aligning women’s basketball teams with existing NBA ownership groups.
The Mohegan tribe had previously owned the Sun since 2003.
They originally purchased and relocated the franchise from Florida, where the side was known as the Orlando Miracle.
The tribal ownership group launched a process to explore investment options in the autumn of 2024 to help fund infrastructure projects.
They initially reached a $325m (£258m) agreement with former Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca.
However, the WNBA governing body effectively blocked that transaction from progressing any further.
The league held firm that relocation decisions rest strictly with the Board of Governors.
This ensured that cities completing the formal expansion process maintained priority over a potential move to Boston.