The president of the Connecticut Sun, Jennifer Rizzotti, confirmed that the team will play at the Mohegan Sun Arena in 2026. This, following an agreement reached for a Boston-based investment group to acquire the franchise and move it for the 2027 season. Rizzotti reiterated that the sale by the Mohegan Tribe “has not yet been finalized.” The sale and possible relocation to Boston are subject to the approval of the WNBA Board of Governors. Meanwhile, the Suns have opened the season ticket renewal process for next season, which will be valid until August 22.
A group led by Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, agreed to buy the Sun for $325 million and contribute $100 million for a training facility. The sale price would be a record for a women’s sports franchise. Pagliuca stated that an offer had been made to buy the team, but “approval has not yet been obtained and we cannot proceed without it. We will respect, cooperate with, and abide by all league rules and decisions in these matters.”We have received many positive comments from our fans following the news that we will be here next year. I know there is still uncertainty about the future, but our loyal fans are excited to see this team grow and enter the second year of this roster remodel and see where we can go. And if it turns out to be our last year here, we will make sure it is unforgettable.
Jennifer Rizzotti
Rizzotti and the Mohegan Tribe are restricted in what they can say due to a confidentiality agreement, but the Sun’s president indicated that any proposal would have to be presented to the league, and then the league would have to present it to the Board of Governors. The Mohegan Tribe initially purchased the franchise in 2003, when it was the Orlando Miracle, and moved it to Uncasville, becoming the first owners of a WNBA team that were not from the NBA. Rizzotti said the Mohegan Tribe is responsible for “decades of investment in the WNBA before it was popular to own a WNBA team,” which, according to her, is reflected in the team’s tremendous success on the court: 17 playoff appearances, including eight consecutive, as well as four trips to the WNBA Finals.Fundamental to our proposal is allowing the Sun to play in arenas with greater capacity in New England. We believe that our record offer and our deep commitment to the growth of the WNBA in the region, which is home to the nation’s most passionate basketball fans, will significantly benefit the league, the team, and all its fans.
Steve Pagliuca
However, the Sun are one of the few teams that have not built or announced plans to complete a dedicated training facility. The team currently trains at the Mohegan Sun Arena or the Mohegan Tribal Center, a community space. While WNBA pavilions vary in size, from approximately 4,000 to 18,000 capacity, the Sun are at the lower end of that range, with a capacity of just under 9,000 fans.
Rizzotti praised the Mohegan Tribe for being “thoughtful” about the direction the league is taking and argued that “it has tried to do what is best not only for this team, but for the league as a whole.” She has met with different groups of owners in recent months and said that the Mohegan Tribe has done a thorough job of investigating potential new owners. “Have they been approved?” Rizzotti said. “They know, in a way, but we have never suffered in loyalty and commitment and a great fan base and people who really care about taking care of our players.” The outlet that first reported the agreement also reported that the league could force the Mohegan Tribe to sell to a Connecticut-based buyer and would prefer to give Boston an expansion team in 2033.The Sun sold out in 2024 and 2025 at TD Garden in Boston, and Rizzotti says her conversations with league players suggest they would prefer to play in a larger market with more opportunities than in Uncasville. “Relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not an individual team,” the WNBA said in a statement, adding that cities that submitted expansion bids have priority over Boston in that process.I can’t imagine that if there’s an investment group at the right level in a big city, why someone wouldn’t consider it a viable option.
Jennifer Rizzotti
