Home / Sports / Houston Gets Its WNBA Team Back: Comets Reborn
Houston Gets Its WNBA Team Back: Comets Reborn
30 Mar
Summary
- Connecticut Sun to be renamed Houston Comets, playing in 2027.
- The franchise was sold for $300 million to Tilman Fertitta.
- Comets were original WNBA team, winning first four championships.
The Connecticut Sun franchise has been sold and will move to Houston, Texas, resuming play as the Houston Comets starting in the 2027 WNBA season. Tilman Fertitta's Fertitta Entertainment, already owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets, reached an agreement to purchase the team for $300 million. The Comets will play their home games at the Toyota Center, the same venue as the Rockets.
This transaction signals the end of the WNBA's presence in Connecticut, where the Sun had been a consistent contender. The team made four WNBA Finals appearances between 2019 and 2024. The sale concludes an extensive process after the team was put on the market last spring.
The Comets were a foundational franchise in the WNBA, winning the league's first four championships from 1997 to 2000, spearheaded by stars like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson. The original franchise disbanded after the 2008 season, making their return a significant event for Houston sports.
Previous offers to purchase the Sun and relocate the team to Boston or Hartford were reportedly rejected by the WNBA. League officials emphasized that teams are tied to their markets. However, permission was granted for the relocation to Houston, a city that had expressed interest in an expansion team.
