The ownership of the Houston Rockets is engaged in serious discussions regarding the potential acquisition and relocation of the Connecticut Sun, according to sources familiar with the matter. These talks have been characterized as “positive,” with the Rockets reportedly enhancing their offer to a level that the Sun’s ownership may find acceptable.
While a formal offer has been mentioned, the parties have not yet entered into an exclusivity agreement, meaning no final decision has been made regarding the franchise’s future. The WNBA has previously expressed strong interest in a return to Houston. At the league’s three-team expansion announcement in June, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert specifically pointed to Houston and its owner, Tilman Fertitta, as prime candidates for future expansion.
The Sun has been under the ownership of the Mohegan tribe since 2003 when the franchise was relocated from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut. A potential sale to the Rockets would align with the WNBA’s trend of integrating more teams owned by NBA franchises.
The Sun began exploring investment options over a year ago, initially assessing opportunities for a limited partnership sale to fund infrastructure improvements. Earlier this year, Houston expressed interest in purchasing the Sun outright and raised its offer to $250 million, the same amount that teams from Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia paid as expansion fees earlier this year.
In July, Sun ownership reached a record deal to sell the team for $325 million to a group led by former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca. This deal would have relocated the franchise to Boston, but the WNBA intervened, stating that “relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.” The league emphasized that cities that have previously gone through the expansion process take precedence over Boston.
In response, the WNBA offered to buy the Sun for $250 million, intending to facilitate a sale to a more favorable market. There was speculation that this move aimed to relocate the Sun to Houston after the city was overlooked for an expansion team in June.
More recently, Sun ownership has considered a proposal involving funds linked to the state of Connecticut to acquire a minority stake in the franchise. However, those discussions have reportedly slowed.
The urgency surrounding the franchise’s future is heightened by the upcoming free agency period, during which nearly all but two league veterans are not under contract. The timeline for free agency remains uncertain as the WNBA and the players’ union negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement, with a deadline set for January 9, 2024.
Historically, the Houston Comets were a prominent franchise in the league, winning the first four championships from 1997 to 2000 and showcasing some of women’s basketball’s greatest talents, including Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson. The potential relocation of the Sun could bring back professional women’s basketball to Houston, reigniting a passionate fan base.
