Home / Sports / Connecticut Sun's Era Ends With Profitable Move to Houston
Connecticut Sun's Era Ends With Profitable Move to Houston
25 Sep
Summary
- Franchise sold for $300 million, a significant profit from its $10 million purchase.
- Connecticut was the first WNBA team to achieve profitability.
- The team's move to Houston marks its third relocation since 2003.
The Connecticut WNBA franchise concluded its final game in the state on Thursday before its planned move to Houston next year. This team, which began its journey in Connecticut in 2003, has become the league's first to achieve profitability. It was initially purchased for $10 million and has now been sold for $300 million.
Throughout its 24-year tenure, the franchise made four appearances in the WNBA Finals and hosted a record four All-Star Games. Team president Jen Rizzotti expressed that the move forces a reflection on the franchise's significant legacy over two decades. The team's final game was a 95-81 victory against Toronto.
The relocation to Houston, the home of the former championship-winning Comets, is a strategic shift. Factors like the new collective bargaining agreement's demand for state-of-the-art facilities likely influenced the move, as the previous smallest market presented challenges in attracting top free agents. The Mohegan Tribe, which owned the franchise, facilitated the sale to Tilman Fertitta.
Earlier, an offer of $325 million from a group led by Steve Pagliuca to move the franchise to Boston was reportedly blocked by the WNBA. This move makes the Sun the first team to relocate since San Antonio moved to Las Vegas in 2017, leaving Connecticut without a professional women's basketball team.
