The Connecticut Sun of the Women's National Basketball Association have been sold for a record $300 million to the Fertitta family, the owners of the Houston Rockets of the NBA.
The transaction, first reported by ESPN, values the franchise at a historic high for a WNBA team and includes a commitment to keep the club based in Uncasville, Connecticut, for the 2026 season.
After the 2026 campaign the franchise will move to Texas, where it will become the league’s second franchise in Houston, reviving the city’s long‑standing connection to the sport.
The move marks the WNBA’s return to one of its original markets, a development that aligns with the league’s broader expansion strategy and its push to establish a presence in cities that have formally submitted bids for new franchises.
A historic shift for the WNBA
The sale is still pending approval from the WNBA Board of Governors, which has emphasized that only league officials can sanction relocations, ensuring that any shift respects the league’s expansion priorities.
While the Fertitta family’s bid cleared the way for a Texas move, other potential suitors have surfaced. Marc Lasry, a co‑owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, was reported to have explored a purchase, and a prior $325 million proposal led by Stephen Pagliuca would have transferred the team to Boston.
The WNBA’s intervention to centralize relocation decisions reflects a desire to protect its strategic interests, especially as the league prepares to welcome new clubs in Portland, Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia over the next few years.
By 2030 the circuit is slated to grow to 18 teams, a milestone that underscores the league’s ambition to deepen its national footprint and to capitalize on growing commercial interest.