Who owns the Connecticut Sun? For more than two decades the answer was simple: the Mohegan Tribe, through the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, has run the franchise since 2003.
That changed in 2025 and 2026, when a wild sale process turned the Connecticut Sun into one of the most talked about ownership stories in the WNBA.
Two rival billionaire led groups fought over the team. One wanted to move it to Hartford. The other wanted to move it to Boston.
Neither bid won. Instead, the team is headed somewhere almost nobody expected: Houston.
So who actually owns the Connecticut Sun today, why is the team leaving Connecticut, and what happens to the fans who have supported it since the Mohegan Sun Arena days first opened? The full story is stranger than most people realize.
| Connecticut Sun Quick Facts | |
| Team | Connecticut Sun |
| Current Owner | Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (sale to Tilman Fertitta approved by the WNBA and NBA) |
| Valuation | About 300 million dollars (Forbes, 2026) |
| Founded | 1999 as the Orlando Miracle, renamed Connecticut Sun in 2003 |
| League | WNBA |
| Arena | Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut |
| Relocation Status | Approved: moving to Houston for the 2027 season |
Table of Contents
The Mohegan Tribe And The Story Of Connecticut Sun Ownership
The Connecticut Sun franchise did not start in Connecticut at all. It began in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle, one of the WNBA’s original expansion teams.
By 2002 the NBA decided to stop directly owning WNBA franchises, and the Miracle needed a new home. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority stepped in.
In January 2003 the tribe bought the team, moved it to Uncasville, Connecticut, and renamed it the Connecticut Sun, a nod to the nearby Mohegan Sun casino resort. Learn more about the franchise’s full history on Wikipedia.
That made the Mohegan Tribe the first Native American tribe to own a major professional sports franchise in the United States, a distinction the team has held for more than two decades.
Who Owns The Connecticut Sun Now: Meet Tilman Fertitta
As of 2026, the answer to who owns the Connecticut Sun is shifting. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority remains the team’s owner of record through the 2026 season.
But the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors have already approved a sale to Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire owner of the NBA’s Houston Rockets and the chief executive of Landry’s, a major restaurant and hospitality company.
According to ESPN, Fertitta’s group agreed to pay roughly 300 million dollars for the franchise, one of the largest sale prices in league history.
Once the deal formally closes, Fertitta will become one of the only owners to simultaneously control an NBA team and a WNBA team in the same city.
Connecticut Sun Ownership Structure Explained
Ownership of the Connecticut Sun is moving through a clear chain during the 2026 transition period.
Outgoing owner since 2003
Incoming owner, approved 2026
Approved the sale and relocation
Ownership vehicle tied to the Houston Rockets
The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority still runs day to day operations for the final Connecticut season, while Fertitta’s ownership group prepares the move to Texas.
Because Fertitta already owns the Rockets, the incoming ownership vehicle for the Sun is closely tied to his existing Landry’s and Fertitta Entertainment holdings.
Is The Connecticut Sun Moving To Houston
Yes. The relocation is approved, not rumored. The WNBA and NBA jointly signed off on Fertitta’s purchase and the move to Houston beginning with the 2027 season.
The team plans to revive the Houston Comets name, a callback to the franchise that won the first four WNBA championships from 1997 through 2000, before folding in 2008.
For the 2026 season, the Sun will still play the bulk of their home games at Mohegan Sun Arena, with a small number of games in Hartford and one game at TD Garden in Boston.
What Happened To The Boston Relocation Bid
Before Houston entered the picture, a group led by former Boston Celtics minority owner Stephen Pagliuca offered a reported 325 million dollars to buy the Sun and move the team to Boston, with games planned at TD Garden.
A rival bid, backed by businessman Marc Lasry, tried to keep the franchise in state by proposing a new home at Hartford’s PeoplesBank Arena.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont publicly supported the Hartford effort, even floating state pension money for a minority stake, a plan that drew sharp criticism and was later withdrawn.
In the end, the WNBA passed on both the Boston and Hartford bids. League officials had already signaled they preferred placing a relocated franchise in a larger market with an established ownership group, which favored Fertitta’s Houston offer.
Connecticut Sun Valuation In 2026: What Is The Team Worth
Forbes valued the Connecticut Sun at about 300 million dollars in its 2026 WNBA rankings, a jump of roughly 50 percent from the year before, according to Forbes.
That figure closely matches the reported Fertitta sale price and reflects a broader surge in WNBA franchise values, driven by new media rights deals and record attendance across the league.
For context, the team’s 2025 season revenue was estimated at around 20 million dollars, a modest base compared to its new valuation, but typical for a league still growing its national television footprint.
Connecticut Sun Ownership Timeline: From Orlando Miracle To Houston Comets
The team began life as the Orlando Miracle, an original WNBA expansion club.
The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority purchases the franchise, moves it to Connecticut, and renames it the Sun.
The Mohegan Tribe opens talks to sell the team, sparking rival bids tied to Hartford and Boston.
The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors approve a 300 million dollar sale to Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, passing on the Boston bid.
The team relocates to Houston and revives the Houston Comets name from the original WNBA era.
Is Tilman Fertitta A Good Owner: Is The Connecticut Sun Ownership Really Worth It
Fertitta brings real advantages to the Connecticut Sun. He already owns and profitably runs the Houston Rockets, giving him experience operating a professional sports franchise at scale.
His Landry’s restaurant and hospitality empire also gives the team access to marketing, sponsorship, and event infrastructure that a smaller ownership group could not match.
Supporters point out that his 300 million dollar purchase price signals real confidence in the WNBA’s growth, and that Houston is a proven sports market that once supported a championship winning WNBA team in the original Comets.
On the other side, critics note that Fertitta is inheriting a fan base in Connecticut that built the team’s identity for more than two decades, and that relocating a successful, playoff caliber franchise away from its community has drawn genuine anger from longtime supporters.
There is also an open question of whether Houston, a city that lost its original WNBA team in 2008 due to weak attendance, will actually support the Comets revival the second time around.
Whether Fertitta turns out to be a good owner will likely depend on how he handles the emotional transition for Connecticut fans and how quickly the Houston market embraces the relocated team.
Where Do The Connecticut Sun Play Their Final Season
During the 2026 season, the Sun’s primary home remains Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, the building the team has called home since 2003.
The team also scheduled two regular season games at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, a nod to the city that fought hardest to keep the franchise in state.
One additional game is set for TD Garden in Boston, giving fans in that market a final look at the team before the Houston move becomes official.
For fans comparing how other major sports properties are structured and sold, the ownership history of leagues like the NFL offers a useful point of comparison, since major sports relocations almost always require league level approval, not just an owner’s decision.
Are The Connecticut Sun For Sale In 2026
No, not anymore. The sale process that dominated headlines through 2025 is finished. The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has a signed agreement to sell the team to Tilman Fertitta, and the WNBA and NBA have already approved both the sale and the relocation.
The only thing left is the formal transfer of control, which is expected to be completed before the team’s first Houston season in 2027.
Fans hoping for a last minute reversal, similar to the collapse of the Boston and Hartford bids, should not expect one. This deal is done.
Boston sports fans have their own long history with ownership drama, not unlike the ownership questions surrounding programs such as the Boston College Eagles baseball program, though that situation involves a university athletic department rather than a professional league.
Frequently Asked Questions About Connecticut Sun Ownership
Who Is The Current Owner Of The Connecticut Sun
As of the 2026 season, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is still the team’s official owner, though a sale to Tilman Fertitta has been approved and is in the process of closing.
Is The Connecticut Sun Still Owned By The Mohegan Tribe
Yes, for now. The tribe has owned the franchise since 2003 and will remain the owner of record through the end of the 2026 season, when control formally transfers to Fertitta’s group.
When Will The Connecticut Sun Move To Houston
The relocation is scheduled for the 2027 season. The team will finish the 2026 season primarily at Mohegan Sun Arena before making the permanent move to Texas.
What Will The Connecticut Sun Be Renamed
The franchise is expected to be renamed the Houston Comets, reviving the name of the original WNBA team that won four straight championships in the league’s first years before folding in 2008.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.