A consortium headed by Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has agreed to purchase the Connecticut Sun for a historic sum of $325 million US and relocate the team to Boston. The move is set for the 2027 season, with Pagliuca also committing $100 million for a new practice facility in Boston. This information was disclosed by a source familiar with the transaction but requested anonymity as the deal is yet to be officially announced. Approval from the league and its Board of Governors is still pending.
The WNBA Board of Governors, not individual teams, dictate relocation decisions, as stated by the league. The Sun have previously played a regular season game at TD Garden in the past two years, including a match against the Indiana Fever.
The WNBA has revealed plans for expansion teams over the next five years, with Portland (2026), Toronto (2026), Cleveland (2028), Detroit (2029), and Philadelphia (2030) joining the league. Each expansion team paid a record $250 million fee. Boston did not apply for a team during this expansion round, with other cities like Houston, which showed interest, being considered for future expansion opportunities.
The Mohegan Tribe currently owns the Connecticut Sun, having purchased the franchise for $10 million in 2003 and relocating it from Orlando. The team was the first in the league to be owned by a non-NBA entity and became the first to generate profits. The franchise announced its search for a potential buyer in May and enlisted investment bank Allen & Company to facilitate the sale.
The WNBA has seen substantial growth in recent years, with increased investments from ownership groups focusing on player experiences, including improved practice facilities. Despite the lack of a new training facility, the Sun, who currently practice at the arena in the casino or a local community center, have been a successful team in the league, reaching the postseason 16 times.
Although the Sun have faced challenges this season with significant player departures, leading to a current last-place standing in the WNBA, the team remains committed to its fans, assuring season ticket holders that games will continue at the casino next year. Recent team sales in the league include Larry Gottesdiener’s acquisition of the Atlanta Dream in 2021 and Mark Davis’s purchase of the Las Vegas Aces in the previous year.
The Boston Globe initially reported on the sale of the Connecticut Sun to Pagliuca’s group, marking a significant development in the WNBA landscape.