Mohegan Tribe Sold Connecticut Sun for $300 Million
The franchise was purchased by Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta in a deal finalized in May 2026.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Basketball
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In May 2026, the Mohegan Tribe finalized the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta for $300 million. The team operated for 24 seasons on Mohegan land in Uncasville before the transaction was completed.
Why it matters
The sale addresses the tribe's substantial debt and fulfills the need to divest from the team as league mandates for expensive, state-of-the-art practice facilities under the new collective bargaining agreement became unaffordable for the tribal business arm.
The Mohegan Tribe originally purchased the WNBA franchise for $10 million in 2003, with the team operating for 24 seasons before its recent sale. The Connecticut Sun achieved the distinction of being the first WNBA team to ever turn a profit.
The players
Tilman Fertitta
He is the billionaire owner of the Houston Rockets who acquired the Connecticut Sun.
Mohegan Tribe
This Native American tribe was the first to own a professional sports team and operated the Sun for 24 seasons.
The details
The Mohegan Tribe, which became the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports team in 2003, directed all proceeds from the $300 million sale toward paying down its existing tribal debt. The team will eventually relocate from its longtime home in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Timeline
The Mohegan Tribe purchased the WNBA franchise in 2003.
The Sun achieved profitability and deep playoff runs beginning in 2010.
The tribe finalized the sale of the team in May 2026.
The final game for the franchise on Mohegan land occurred on October 1, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This sale marks a departure for the WNBA as one of its most stable and profitable franchises prepares to relocate and undergo a change in management. The move follows a pattern set by the WNBA collective bargaining agreement, which forces teams to invest in state-of-the-art practice facilities to remain competitive.
Fans will see the franchise relocate from its longtime home in Uncasville, Connecticut, following the final game played on Mohegan land. The transition shifts the competitive balance of the WNBA as the team moves into a new ownership structure under the Houston Rockets organization.
The takeaway
The exit of the Mohegan Tribe highlights the increasing financial pressure placed on sports organizations by modern league facility requirements. Investors and team owners must now account for significant capital expenditure mandates when evaluating the long-term viability of their professional franchises.
Further reading
Learn more about the league's shifting landscape in our Basketball coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TSN.
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