Houston Secures WNBA Return in $300 Million Franchise Acquisition
Houston, Friday, 27 March 2026.
Highlighting the explosive valuation of women’s sports, billionaire Tilman Fertitta is purchasing the Connecticut Sun for $300 million, bringing a historic WNBA franchise back to Houston in 2027.
Navigating the WNBA’s Rigorous Approval Process
The Mohegan Tribe has agreed to sell the Connecticut Sun to the Fertitta family for $300 million [2][3]. This transaction concludes a bidding process that began when the franchise was placed on the market in the spring of 2025 [2]. The WNBA’s stringent ownership criteria were prominently displayed during this period, as the league previously rejected two higher offers of $325 million [2]. Investors Steve Pagliuca and Marc Lasry each proposed acquisitions at that price point—with Lasry intending to relocate the team to Hartford, Connecticut—but neither secured league approval [2]. By ultimately accepting a bid that is 25 million dollars lower than competing offers, the league signals a strong strategic preference for ownership groups with established arena infrastructure and operational scale, such as Fertitta’s Houston Rockets organization [1][2].
Resurrecting the Historic Comets Brand
The franchise will play its final season in Connecticut before officially relocating to Texas for the 2027 WNBA season [1][3]. Upon arrival in the Bayou City, the team is expected to be rebranded as the Houston Comets, effectively reviving one of the league’s original and most decorated franchises [1][2]. Established during the WNBA’s inaugural 1997 season, the original Comets secured the league’s first four consecutive championships from 1997 to 2000 [1][3]. Today, they remain one of only three franchises in WNBA history to capture four titles [3].
Franchise Legacy and Changing Economic Landscapes
The impending move to Houston marks the sixth franchise relocation in the history of the WNBA [3]. It also represents the second geographic shift for this specific organization, which was originally founded in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle before relocating to central Connecticut after just four seasons [3]. The departure will conclude a 23-year tenure in Uncasville, Connecticut [3]. During their time operating as the Sun, the team established a highly consistent record of competitiveness, missing the playoffs only six times since 2003 and making four WNBA Finals appearances, though a championship ultimately eluded them [3].