Efforts to bring a WNBA team back to Houston, a city where an original franchise won four championships, are intensifying. The Houston Rockets’ ownership group is reportedly in serious talks with the Connecticut Sun about buying and relocating the team. According to ESPN, these discussions are progressing positively, with Rockets ownership working on a buyout offer that the Sun might accept. No formal agreement or exclusive contract has been signed yet, but a concrete offer is being considered.
This development comes about six months after WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert highlighted Houston during the June 30 announcements of new expansion teams in Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia. Houston had joined the bidding late and did not receive a bid then. The Sun’s owner has been exploring strategic investment opportunities or even a sale, with a past bid from a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Paliuca to buy and move the team to Boston being blocked by the league. The league prioritized the city that first applied for expansion over Boston.
In addition, ongoing efforts include a plan involving the state of Connecticut purchasing a stake in the Sun to keep the team in place. Decisions about the team’s future are hoped to be reached before the 2026 free agency period, though that depends on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) being finalized. The WNBA and its Players Association have set a January 9 deadline for negotiations, but recent authorization of a strike may complicate matters further.
Fan Take: This news is exciting for WNBA fans, especially those longing to see the league return to a city with such a rich history in women’s basketball. Bringing the Sun to Houston could not only revitalize the team but also further grow the sport’s fanbase and competitive spirit in a major market.
