A significant development is reshaping the landscape of professional women’s basketball, as a group spearheaded by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has reportedly secured a landmark deal to acquire the Connecticut Sun for an unprecedented $325 million. This colossal acquisition signals an intent to relocate the venerable WNBA franchise to Boston, marking a pivotal moment for both the league and the city’s sports scene.
The proposed relocation, however, is not immediate, with plans for the Connecticut Sun to commence play in Boston no sooner than the 2027 season. As part of this substantial investment, Pagliuca is also set to contribute an additional $100 million towards the construction of a cutting-edge practice facility within Boston, underscoring a long-term commitment to the team’s success and player development.
While Boston had not previously applied for a WNBA expansion team, the league has acknowledged the Celtics’ prospective ownership group’s outreach. The WNBA confirmed that other cities remain under consideration based on extensive prior work, but Boston is now slated to receive strong consideration for a franchise at the appropriate time, signaling a potential shift in expansion priorities.
Currently, the Connecticut Sun are under the ownership of the Mohegan Tribe, which operates the casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the team has played since 2003. The Tribe initially purchased the franchise for $10 million, relocating it from Orlando, Florida, in the same year. Notably, the Connecticut franchise distinguished itself as the first in the league to be run by a non-NBA owner and holds the distinction of being the first to turn a profit.
In response to the circulating reports, Mohegan leadership released a statement emphasizing that any sales agreement involving the relocation of the team to a different market would necessitate approval from the WNBA. Furthermore, the statement highlighted that such agreements are subject to non-disclosure terms, thus preventing comment on specifics regarding potential offers or investments in the Connecticut Sun at this juncture.
The WNBA has experienced a period of rapid growth in recent seasons, which has spurred ownership groups to significantly increase their investments in teams, particularly focusing on enhancing player experiences. This trend includes a strong emphasis on modern practice facilities, an area where the Sun currently stands as one of the few teams in the league yet to announce plans for a new training center.
Despite the current lack of a dedicated modern facility, the Connecticut Sun have historically been one of the WNBA’s most successful franchises, boasting 16 postseason appearances, including an impressive run of six consecutive semifinal berths. However, the team faced a challenging offseason this year, with its entire starting five from the previous season departing through either free agency or trade.
Presently, the Connecticut Sun finds itself in last place within the WNBA standings with a 5-21 record. Despite the current struggles and the swirling rumors of relocation, the team recently communicated to its season-ticket holders that it intends to continue playing at the casino for the upcoming year.
This reported record-breaking sale underscores the burgeoning value within the WNBA, contrasting sharply with previous team acquisitions. For instance, the last WNBA team sale occurred in 2021 when a group led by real estate investor Larry Gottesdiener purchased a franchise for under $10 million, following a 2020 sale that fetched approximately $2 million, highlighting the exponential increase in franchise valuations within the league.
