Sources: Rockets Owners in Advanced Talks to Acquire and Relocate the Connecticut Sun - ESPN
The Houston Rockets' ownership group is in the final stages of negotiations to purchase and relocate the Connecticut Sun, a WNBA franchise, according to sources. The discussions have been described as positive, with the Rockets improving their offer to a figure that could be acceptable to the Sun's owners.
While a formal offer has been discussed, no exclusivity agreement has been signed, and a final decision on the franchise's future has not yet been made. This potential move comes as the WNBA expresses interest in returning to Houston, a city that has been a focal point for the league's expansion plans.
The Connecticut Sun has been owned by the Mohegan tribe since 2003, when they relocated the franchise from Orlando, Florida, to Uncasville, Connecticut. A sale to the Rockets would be the latest in a series of WNBA teams transitioning into the hands of NBA owners.
The Sun initiated a process to explore investment options over a year ago, initially seeking a limited partnership sale to fund infrastructure improvements. Earlier this year, Houston joined other groups in expressing interest in buying the Sun outright, eventually raising their offer to $250 million, matching the expansion fee paid by Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia.
In July, the Sun's ownership group reached a deal to sell the team for a record $325 million to a group led by former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca, intending to move the franchise to Boston. However, the WNBA intervened, asserting that relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors, and cities that have already undergone the expansion process have priority over Boston.
The WNBA then proposed buying the Sun for $250 million, allowing them to facilitate a sale to a preferred market. There was a belief that the league intended to move the Sun to Houston, given the city's lack of an expansion team in June.
More recently, Sun ownership has explored a potential opportunity where Connecticut-affiliated funds could purchase a minority stake in the franchise. However, these talks have slowed down, according to sources. The goal is to resolve the franchise's future before free agency, where most players are not under contract, but the exact timing remains uncertain as negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement continue.
