Connecticut Sun at the Crossroads: Options for the Franchise’s Future
The ownership of the Connecticut Sun women’s basketball team is at a crucial moment, exploring various alternatives to capitalize on what could have been a record sale of $325 million. Sources close to the situation have revealed that the Mohegan tribe, which has owned the franchise since 2003, is seeking clarity from the WNBA on the path forward.
Uncertainty arises following the league’s resistance to the sale of the team to a group led by Steve Pagliuca, former minority owner of the Boston Celtics. The WNBA emphasized that relocation decisions are the responsibility of the Board of Governors, prioritizing cities that have gone through the expansion process.
Among the options that the Mohegan tribe could present to the league are:
Total sale of the franchise to the Pagliuca group.
Sale to a group led by Marc Lasry, former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, who would move the team to Hartford, Connecticut.
Sale of a minority stake in the organization.
Allow the league to acquire the franchise for $325 million and relocate it.
A source close to the ownership group expresses frustration, feeling that the league favors the team’s relocation to its choice. The league offered to buy the Sun for $250 million and not charge an additional relocation fee, a proposal that was presented before Pagliuca’s offer.
Pagliuca’s group intends to move the team to Boston for the 2027 season, committing to build a $100 million training facility.
The league believes that Boston’s TD Garden may not be viable to host all games due to scheduling issues, which would force some games to be played at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island.
The main problem for the league with relocation to Boston is that the city did not submit an expansion proposal. The tribe, after operating the franchise at a loss for two decades, seeks to obtain the highest possible price and keep the team in New England.The Sun’s sales potential comes at a time of boom for the league, with an increase in franchise value, television audience, and player popularity. The WNBA is preparing for its biggest expansion, reaching a record 18 teams in 2030.
The Sun’s ownership decided to explore investment options, considering a limited partnership sale to build infrastructure, while keeping the possibility of a complete sale open.
The league asked the tribe to allow the group that owns the Cleveland Cavaliers to submit a bid before starting the sale, as Cleveland was a strong candidate for expansion.Houston, with a rich history in the WNBA, also presented a $250 million offer. However, the Sun’s ownership rejected Cleveland’s offer.
The league sent a letter to the Sun in April, indicating that any sale would be subject to the approval of the Board of Governors and that the tribe has no right to change the venue of the games or to operate outside the defined territory (75 miles around Montville, Connecticut).
After the exclusivity period of Pagliuca’s offer expired, the Lasry group matched the $325 million offer, but the league would not approve the move to Hartford.
The tribe can still maintain ownership by selling a minority stake or retaining full control, funding a training facility, or working with the state to obtain funds.
