The Connecticut Sun’s sale to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta appears to be progressing rapidly. According to the Houston Chronicle, which confirmed an ESPN report, the Mohegan Tribe is in the “final stage discussions” to transfer ownership of the Sun to the Rockets’ organization.
Once the sale is finalized, the Sun will play their last season at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut before moving to Texas, where they will be rebranded as the Houston Comets. Fertitta is reportedly set to pay over $250 million for the team, which has been based in Connecticut since relocating from Orlando, Florida, in 2003.
The original Comets franchise holds a prominent place in WNBA history, having secured the league’s first four championships from 1997 to 2000 under former owner Leslie Alexander. Legends like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson were part of that iconic team. The new Comets will continue this legacy by playing at Houston’s Toyota Center — the Rockets’ home since 2003 — and sharing the NBA team’s practice facility, which opened just last year.
Fan Take: This move resurrects a historic WNBA brand and could revitalize interest in the league within a passionate basketball city like Houston. It promises to strengthen the WNBA’s presence and boost opportunities for growth by aligning a new team with an established NBA franchise.
