Former Celtics Minority Owner Acquires WNBA's Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun are headed to Boston. A group led by Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has reached a deal to purchase the WNBA franchise and relocate it to the city. Pagliuca will reportedly pay a record $325 million for the team and invest an additional $100 million into a new practice facility in Boston. The Mohegan Tribe, which owns the team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, had reportedly been looking to sell. Pagliuca’s offer—now the highest ever for a women’s professional sports team—accelerated the process. The sale is still subject to approval by the WNBA and its board of governors, which could present a potential hurdle.
This move continues the WNBA’s expansion, following the league’s recent announcement that five cities—Toronto, Portland, Detroit, Cleveland, and Philadelphia will receive expansion franchises over the next five years. The Sun have played in Connecticut since 2003, after relocating from Orlando, where they were known as the Miracle from 1999 to 2002. All 15 of the franchise’s winning seasons have come since the move to Connecticut. The Sun played at TD Garden earlier this season, facing the Indiana Fever. It was only the second time the iconic arena had hosted a WNBA game—the first was a Sun matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks in 2024. Both games were sellouts almost immediately when tickets went on sale.
If approved, the relocation of the Sun would mark one of the most significant shifts in WNBA history—both financially and culturally. It underscores the growing commercial value of women’s sports and the league’s strategic push into major markets. The move would not only reshape the WNBA’s geographic footprint but also signal the league’s readiness to compete for attention in sports-saturated cities like Boston. While it would mark the end of a two-decade run in Uncasville—where the Sun built a strong identity and loyal following– it also presents a fresh start in one of the most passionate sports hubs in the country. With Boston’s existing basketball infrastructure, media presence, and fan engagement, the relocation could help the franchise reach new heights. If approved, the move may serve as a turning point in how the WNBA positions its teams for long-term success and broader national relevance.
