The Connecticut Sun have agreed to sell the franchise to Tilman Fertitta, owner of the Houston Rockets, for $300 million and will relocate to Houston before the 2027 season, with the Sun remaining in Connecticut for the 2026 season.

The Mohegan Tribe, current owners since 2003, had pledged to ensure the Sun spend the 2026 season at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Following the 2026 season in Connecticut, the Sun will relocate to Houston for 2027, pending WNBA Board of Governors approval.

The WNBA says relocation decisions are made by the league’s Board of Governors, not by individual teams, and notes that prior expansion processes influenced market choices.

The move fits a broader trend of NBA-connected ownership in the WNBA, with several recent and upcoming teams tied to NBA ownership.

Connecticut lawmakers proposed using state pension funds to buy a minority stake to keep the Sun in-state, but the WNBA effectively blocked such a move and favored league-determined outcomes.

Tilman Fertitta is a high-profile investor with broader roles in government and international events, highlighted by his diplomatic and Olympic-footing profile.

Houston’s bid to acquire the Sun for $300 million marks a higher valuation than prior offers, while a Boston relocation bid at $325 million was blocked by the league.

Relocating to Houston revives the historic Houston Comets name, one of the WNBA’s original franchises.

The sale and relocation require WNBA Board of Governors approval, after which the Sun would become the Houston Comets again.

The deal comes amid a new WNBA collective bargaining framework emphasizing top-tier facilities and provides clarity for potential Sun free agents ahead of upcoming signings.

ESPN and PaperCity Magazine reported the deal, with Houston identified as the next possible location for a team, following discussions that had included Houston Rockets ownership.