Fertitta Family Purchased Connecticut Sun in 2026
The WNBA franchise relocated to Houston after a $300 million purchase agreement ended its time in Connecticut.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Basketball
Live Poll
Should the WNBA prioritize ownership groups that already operate NBA franchises for league expansion?
The Fertitta family acquired the Connecticut Sun for $300 million in March 2026, marking the end of the franchise's 23-year tenure in Connecticut. The team played its final game at Mohegan Sun on September 24, 2026, before its move to Houston.
Why it matters
The sale concluded a competitive bidding process where the WNBA Board of Governors rejected a higher $325 million offer from Steve Pagliuca to relocate the team to Boston. The league decision prioritized a shared-ownership model with an existing NBA franchise.
The franchise recorded 15 playoff series appearances during its 23 years in Connecticut. The transaction followed the Mohegan Tribe placing the team on the market in March 2025.
The players
Fertitta family
They are the owners who purchased the Connecticut Sun for $300 million and facilitated the team's relocation to Houston.
Steve Pagliuca
He is an investor who submitted a $325 million bid to relocate the franchise to Boston.
Mohegan Tribe
They were the former owners of the Connecticut Sun who put the franchise on the market in 2025.
WNBA Board of Governors
This is the league governing body that rejected the bid to move the team to Boston in favor of the Houston relocation.
The details
Originally established as the Orlando Miracle in 1999, the franchise moved to Connecticut before the Fertitta family purchased the team to move it to Houston. The WNBA rejected the Boston bid, which had included a $100 million plan for a new practice facility.
Timeline
The Orlando Miracle debuted as an expansion team in 1999.
The Mohegan Tribe put the franchise on the market in March 2025.
The sale to the Fertitta family was agreed upon in March 2026.
The team played its last game in Connecticut on September 24, 2026.
Three new WNBA expansion teams are expected by 2030.
Season Trajectory
This move reflects a broader strategic shift within the WNBA as the league prioritizes shared-ownership models with established NBA teams. The relocation occurs as the organization prepares for a significant expansion period scheduled to culminate in 2030.
The relocation removes the team from the Connecticut playoff pool and establishes a new franchise presence in Houston. Fans of the league should monitor how this transaction influences the upcoming expansion drafts and league scheduling leading into the 2030 season.
The takeaway
The move highlights the WNBA's preference for pairing franchises with existing NBA markets to leverage shared resources. This transition serves as a blueprint for how the league may navigate future expansion and ownership changes.
Further reading
For more on the league's current landscape, visit Basketball.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Suffolk Journal.
Live Poll
Should the WNBA prioritize ownership groups that already operate NBA franchises for league expansion?
