The WNBA’s decision on the Connecticut Sun’s future is drawing heavy backlash, with fans questioning how a more lucrative deal was left on the table. It was confirmed Friday that the Sun will move to Houston, with 2026 set to be the franchise’s final season in Connecticut. But for now, the fans aren’t buying into this Houston move taking center spot over more lucrative offers from Boston and Hartford.
As per reports, Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta purchased the Sun in a staggering $300M deal from the Mohegan Tribe. On paper, the amount looks substantial, but when last year’s offers are factored in, the enthusiasm seems to fade. Stephen Pagliuca, a former minority stakeholder in the Boston Celtics, offered a bid of around $325M to move the franchise to Boston, already $25M higher than the Houston deal. On top of that, Pagliuca’s bid also included an additional $110M for the future development of a new facility.
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The deal would have been extremely lucrative for the Mohegan Tribe, but it collapsed when the WNBA commissioner did not move it forward to the Board of Directors, disrupting the exclusivity of the proposal. And nearly seven months later, the bid was placed in Fertitta and Houston’s hands. ESPN’s Alexa Philippou confirmed the reports of this deal via an X post.
For Houston, though, the deal is a way back to the WNBA. the city has been without a WNBA team ever since the Houston Comets got dissolved in 2008. According to reports, following the Connecticut Sun’s move to Houston, the team will be renamed the Houston Sun. It will be the second relocation and rebranding of the franchise, following its initial move from Orlando to Connecticut.
And with it, the only NBA-independent WNBA franchise will also see a shift in NBA-dominated ownership. The league also had the opportunity to move the franchise to Hartford. Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry equaled the $325M bid submitted by Pagliuca. But the WNBA didn’t approve it again, only to sell it $25M short, which wasn’t to the fans’ liking.
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Fans Tear Into Cathy Engelbert and the WNBA’s Leadership Over Decision With Connecticut Sun Move
“The @MoheganSun owners should SUE @WNBA for tampering in a fair-market sale of their franchise for $200M less than the Boston group was offering,” wrote a fan.
“So it sold for less than the original Pagliucca offer to bring them to Boston. Diabolical work by Cathy and Adam,” commented another.
It’s quite certain that the Sun’s move to Houston over Stephen Pagliuca’s offer would, over time, raise a few eyebrows. Given the deal’s financial perspective and the opportunity to open the league’s markets to an existing basketball market, Boston would have been an immensely feasible decision. Not to mention the additional profits the Mohegan Tribe would have earned from it.
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But against it, the league, led by Cathy Engelbert, has always been adamant that Boston will get a WNBA team as part of the 2033 expansion. Thus, the league diverted its attention to sell it to the Houston-based businessman, Tilman Fertitta. But fans did not respond well to the league’s strict stance against owners selling their franchises. And these comments seem to reflect the fans’ frustration.
Sep 8, 2025; College Park, Georgia, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey (3) drives the ball toward the basket against Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard (10) during the third quarter at Gateway Center Arena at College Park. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
“How does Texas keep getting basketball teams?” wrote another.
“How is that better than the $325 million offer from Bucks ownership to Hartford. This league baffles me,” stated another.
For starters, Texas is just as much a basketball heaven as Boston. The state already boasts a substantial basketball landscape, from college teams like the Texas Longhorns to the NBA’s Houston Rockets. It’s, of course, a much more developed basketball market than Hartford. And with the advent of stars like Kevin Durant, basketball’s popularity in the region is on the rise.
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The second factor is the owner associated with the other side of the deal, Fertitta. Hailing from Houston, Fertitta has always wanted a WNBA team representing the city. Reports suggest he previously submitted a proposal to revive a Houston WNBA team and carry forward the Comets’ legacy. As the owner of the Houston Rockets, Fertitta can immediately tap into existing NBA-level infrastructure — a major advantage over other bidders.
It gives Fertitta a bit of an edge in this regard over bidders like Stephen Pagliuca, who currently isn’t part of an NBA ownership group. Additionally, the league has also shown considerable interest in entering the Houston WNBA market. “Houston would be up next, for sure,” Engelbert said in June last year. “There might be opportunities there.”
“Women’s basketball league, presumably run by women, forces a women’s team out of New England to a region that: restricts women’s healthcare, puts bounties on women, puts and women in jail To a Trump/Abbot loving MAGA gobshite to boot,” wrote a fan.
While there’s no issue with the basketball market between Connecticut and Houston, social concerns still remain a threat. According to reports, Houston hasn’t been among the most significant cities for women’s safety in the USA. Crime rates across the city are also rising alarmingly. All in all, concerns regarding the feasibility of the location for the Connecticut Sun were concerning.
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For now, the Sun attempt for one final dance this season before bidding goodbye to Connecticut. They haven’t won the Championship before, despite reaching the finals four times. And thus, will be looking to end on a positive note in the upcoming 2026 WNBA season.
