A seismic shift is reportedly underway in the professional basketball landscape, potentially bringing a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team directly to the heart of Boston. Reports suggest that a significant figure within the Boston Celtics’ ownership group is orchestrating a deal to acquire the Connecticut Sun, with the explicit intention of relocating the popular WNBA franchise to the iconic TD Garden, a move that would redefine Boston sports.
This ambitious endeavor is spearheaded by Steve Pagliuca, a minority governor of the Boston Celtics, who is reportedly stepping away from his current ownership role within the NBA franchise to dedicate his efforts to this new venture. His deep ties to Boston sports and significant financial backing position him as a pivotal player in this transformative team relocation, promising to reshape the city’s sports identity.
The Connecticut Sun currently call Mohegan Sun in Connecticut their home court, a venue that has fostered a dedicated fan base over the years. However, the prospect of moving the team to TD Garden, a larger and more centrally located arena, presents a compelling opportunity to expand the WNBA’s reach and fan engagement in a major market like Boston, leveraging the existing infrastructure and fervent basketball culture.
While the deal appears promising, any such significant team relocation and sale is subject to stringent approvals from both the WNBA league and its governors. Industry sources indicate that the WNBA’s strategic long-term vision includes Boston as a prime candidate for an expansion city in 2033, which could introduce complexities to the immediate relocation proposal.
The Mohegan Tribe, current owners of the Connecticut Sun, has expressed a clear preference for selling the team to the Boston-based ownership group led by Pagliuca. Despite the WNBA’s potential power to mandate a sale to a Connecticut-based buyer to keep the team in-state, the Tribe has indicated their willingness to cooperate, yet their clear choice remains the Boston proposition, highlighting the strong appeal of Pagliuca’s offer for this professional basketball team.
This bold maneuver by Pagliuca echoes his past high-profile attempts to expand his sports portfolio. He was notably among the prominent bidders to purchase the entire Boston Celtics franchise when the Wyc Grousbeck group considered selling. Although that bid did not materialize, with the team ultimately sold for a staggering $6.1 billion, Pagliuca’s continued ambition to invest in professional basketball remains evident, now focusing on the WNBA.
The potential arrival of a WNBA team, specifically the Connecticut Sun, in Boston marks a significant moment for both the city and the league. It promises to bring top-tier women’s basketball to a passionate Boston sports market, fostering new rivalries and fan bases while further solidifying Boston’s reputation as a premier sports hub in the United States. This team relocation could set a new precedent for WNBA growth and expansion.
