Connecticut Women's Basketball Team, the Sun, Sold to Businessman Steve Pagliuca; Potential Relocation to Boston Discussed
Connecticut Sun Overcome Odds to Defeat Defending Champions, but Relocation Plans Face Opposition
The Connecticut Sun have made headlines recently, not just for their performances on the court, but also for the ongoing discussions surrounding their potential relocation. In a surprising upset, the Sun managed to defeat the defending WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, but their plans to move to Boston remain unapproved and face strong opposition from the league.
The Connecticut Sun, with a rich history that dates back to 1999 when they began life as the Orlando Miracle, have been based in Connecticut since 2003, named after Mohegan Sun in Uncasville. However, the lack of a dedicated facility in Uncasville has affected the team's momentum, with the Sun sometimes sharing practice courts with camps and events.
Despite these challenges, the Sun have achieved significant milestones. They stand alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx as one of only three teams to have won at least 500 games in the WNBA.
The proposed move to Boston by new owner Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the Boston Celtics, has been met with resistance from the WNBA Board of Governors. The league is opposed to relocating the Sun to either Boston or Hartford, as neither city was part of the recent WNBA expansion application process. As of August 2025, it is very likely that the Board of Governors will vote against such a move.
Pagliuca's plan to move the Sun to Boston's TD Garden and invest $325 million in the team seems to have hit a roadblock. The league has communicated that relocation would require Board approval and an additional relocation fee, potentially pushing the purchase over $400 million. The league has expressed a preference for cities that applied for expansion, such as Houston, which is considered the more favored relocation site.
As the Sun prepare for a four-game road trip starting in Phoenix on Tuesday, their home base in Connecticut remains their focus. The team concluded a six-game homestand on Sunday against the New York Liberty, a game they managed to win despite the challenges they face off the court.
Currently, the Sun are in a rebuild, with a record of 5-22 as of this article. For updates on the team's progress, follow WNBA correspondent Geoff Magliocchetti on Twitter at @GeoffJMags.
[1] CBS Sports [2] ESPN
- The Connecticut Sun, currently in a rebuild and struggling with a record of 5-22, recently made headlines by defeating the defending WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, on their home court.
- Steve Pagliuca, a minority owner of the Boston Celtics, has proposed moving the Connecticut Sun to Boston's TD Garden, investing $325 million in the team, and paying an additional relocation fee.
- The league has communicated that Pagliuca's plan to relocate the Sun to Boston, which was not included in the recent WNBA expansion application process, will require Board approval and may face strong opposition from the WNBA Board of Governors.
- In spite of the ongoing discussions surrounding their potential relocation and the lack of a dedicated facility in Uncasville, the Sun stand alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx as one of only three teams to have won at least 500 games in the WNBA.
