Houston reportedly deemed the preferred destination for a potential WNBA relocation of a franchise.
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The city of Houston may soon witness the return of a beloved sports dynasty, as efforts are underway to bring back the Houston Comets, one of the greatest teams in all of sports history. The Comets, who won the first WNBA championship in 1997 and went on to dominate the league with four consecutive titles, could be making a comeback, rectifying a historical mishap that saw the franchise fold in 2008.
The Houston Comets were one of the WNBA's original franchises, and their story has been lost to history for far too long. The team, led by head coach Van Chancellor, was a powerhouse on the court, with a formidable roster that included the "Big Three" of Sheryl Swoopes, Cynthia Cooper, and Tina Thompson. The feisty point guard Kim Perrot was a key player who held the team together, and her passing away from cancer in August of 1999 was a significant loss for the team and the sport as a whole.
The Houston Comets' legacy is being championed by WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper-Dyke and Diana Taurasi, who have publicly advocated for Houston's return to the WNBA. They emphasise the Comets' importance as a foundational dynasty and call Houston "ready" and deserving of a franchise again.
The return of the Houston Comets is looking increasingly likely, with Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta leading efforts to bring WNBA basketball back to the city. Fertitta has previously attempted to secure an expansion team but lost out to Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia for the 2028-2030 expansions. However, the sale and potential relocation of the Connecticut Sun is the current prime avenue for a Houston franchise's return. The Sun are for sale, with Houston among three likely destinations (alongside Boston and Hartford). The WNBA reportedly prefers Houston as a relocation site if Fertitta or a Houston-based group can acquire the team and pay the relocation fee, reportedly about $325 million.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has indicated Houston is “up next” on the league’s timeline for franchise evaluation and expansion bids, suggesting the league’s clear preference for a return to the market that pioneered a WNBA dynasty. While no official announcement has been made yet, serious efforts are underway, and the relocation of the Connecticut Sun to Houston, led by Rockets owner Fertitta or a Houston ownership group, is the most likely and imminent path for the WNBA’s return to the city that once hosted the Comets’ historic dynasty.
If the Houston Comets return, it will not only bring back the city's sports legacy but also help put women's professional basketball on the map once again, as it did in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Fans of the sport and the city of Houston eagerly await the official announcement of the team's return.
[1] ESPN [2] Houston Chronicle [3] Houston Public Media [4] Sports Illustrated [5] Houston Chronicle
[1] With the potential return of the Houston Comets, rumors of a revived sports dynasty are swirling in the city, as the team could rejoin the playoffs and possibly chase another championship in the WNBA.
[2] The playoffs might see a historic team making a comeback, as the Houston Comets, known for their dominance in the late 1990s and early 2000s, are looking likely to return to basketball courts across the country.
[3] In the world of sports, Houston could soon experience a return to its glory days, as efforts to bring back the WNBA's Houston Comets, a championship-winning team, are gaining traction.
