The Connecticut Sun May Shine in Boston by 2027, But Will the WNBA Really Allow It?

If you’re one of the loyal fans still following the Connecticut Sun this season, first off, good for you. Supporting a league-worst 5-21 team is as much about character as it is about fandom. But strap in, because things are heating up off the court. According to reports, Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca is cooking up a record-breaking $325 million deal to snag the Sun and bring them to Boston. Yes, the Sun in TD Garden, sharing the limelight (and the hardwood) with the Boston Celtics.

Now, before you start planning your basketball road trips or writing heartfelt goodbye letters to Uncasville, there’s a plot twist. The WNBA, forever cautious and deliberate, made it clear that relocation isn’t a team’s call to make. Nope, that power lies with the WNBA Board of Governors, and they’re not handing out relocation approval like flyers on a college campus. The league already announced five expansion cities (Portland, Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philly) and has a pipeline of nine other markets clamoring for their shot. Boston? Not even on the list. How’s that for being ghosted?

The “Why” Behind the Move

Look, the Connecticut Sun have been grinding it out in Uncasville since 2003 when they moved from Orlando. Back then, the idea of a WNBA team being managed by a non-NBA-affiliated owner seemed daring. The Mohegan Tribe bought the franchise for a cool $10 million, and for a while, it turned a profit and exceeded expectations.

But times change, and so do priorities. The Mohegan Sun Arena is the fourth-smallest venue in the league, and the team doesn’t even have a dedicated practice facility. Imagine a professional sports team sharing gym space with community summer camps. Yeah, not exactly championship vibes. Add to that a complete offseason rebuild where last year’s starting five said, “We’re good here” and left, and it’s clear the Tribe’s enthusiasm for keeping the Sun around is dimming faster than a New England winter afternoon.

Pagliuca’s bid doesn’t just include the hefty purchase price; he’s also committing $100 million for a shiny new practice facility in Boston. If approved, the Sun could start shining in Boston as soon as 2027, though early games might even spill into Providence to avoid clashing with Celtics and Bruins playoff fever.

The WNBA’s Relocation Riddle

Here’s where things hit a snag. The WNBA is experiencing a growth spurt, and with a surge in talent like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and Paige Bueckers, the league is hotter than it’s been in years. Hence, they’re playing hardball, angling for new markets with strong community roots rather than letting existing ones shake things up on their own terms.

The league’s official statement was blunt. They essentially said, “Boston? Thanks, but no thanks—for now.” Nine expansion markets that participated in the bidding process get dibs over Boston. And, in that classic sports bureaucracy way, even if Mohegan wants to sell to Pagliuca (and they do), the league could force them to sell to a Connecticut-based buyer instead to keep one of its foundational teams where it is.

Why Boston Makes Sense

Despite the WNBA’s hesitancy, Boston feels like a slam dunk for a W franchise. It’s one of the biggest markets in the country, basketball is weaved into the city’s DNA (hello, Celtics’ 17 banners), and TD Garden has already hosted a pair of sold-out Sun games. The players? They raved about the Garden, from the amenities to the atmosphere. Even Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is campaigning for it, wisely pointing out that Boston is the hub of New England and the birthplace of basketball.

For fans, the idea of New England finally having a team on par with markets like Chicago or Phoenix is tantalizing. Healey isn’t wrong when she says that waiting until the projected 2033 expansion is a tough sell. Come on, a decade without a WNBA team in Boston? That’s like serving up coffee milk and calling it espresso.

What’s Next?

The future of the Sun is murky at best. While the Mohegan Tribe seems eager to cash out and invest elsewhere, the WNBA’s red tape could stall or nix the move entirely. Pagliuca may have deep pockets and the best of intentions, but unless the league softens its stance or the Governors get swayed, Boston will have to keep waiting for a WNBA team.

Still, if there’s one thing we know about New England basketball fans, it’s that they’re persistent. Whether it’s forcing Game 7s or running marathon rants on sports radio, they tend to get what they want. And maybe, just maybe, the Sun will rise in Boston after all.