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Alexa Philippou
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Connecticut Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti confirmed Sunday that the crew plans to play at Mohegan Solar Enviornment in 2026 after a deal was reached Saturday for a Boston-based investor group to purchase the franchise and relocate it there for the 2027 season.
Rizzotti reiterated the sale by the Mohegan Tribe is “not fairly on the end line but.” The sale and potential relocation to Boston are topic to approval by the WNBA Board of Governors.
Within the meantime, the Solar have opened their season ticket renewal course of for subsequent season, which is able to run by way of Aug. 22.
“We have gotten lots of optimistic emotions from our followers primarily based on the information that we’ll be right here subsequent yr,” Rizzotti mentioned. “I do know there’s nonetheless uncertainty concerning the future, however our loyal followers, they’re excited to have the ability to watch this crew develop and get into Yr Two of this retooling of the roster and see the place we will go. And if it finally ends up being our final yr right here, we’re going to verify we blow it out.”
A gaggle led by Steve Pagliuca, a minority proprietor of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, agreed Saturday to purchase the Solar for $325 million and contribute $100 million for a observe facility, ESPN confirmed Saturday. The gross sales worth can be a report for girls’s sports activities franchise.
Rizzotti and the Mohegan Tribe are restricted in what they will say resulting from a non-disclosure settlement, however the Solar president indicated any proposal must be put in entrance of the league, after which the league must current it to the Board of Governors.
The Mohegan Tribe initially bought the franchise in 2003, when it was the Orlando Miracle, and relocated it to Uncasville, making them the primary non-NBA homeowners of a WNBA crew.
Rizzotti mentioned the Mohegan Tribe is accountable for “a long time value of funding within the WNBA earlier than it was in style to personal a WNBA crew,” which she mentioned is mirrored within the group’s super on-court success: 17 playoff appearances, together with eight straight, in addition to 4 journeys to the WNBA Finals.
However the Solar are one of many few groups who haven’t constructed or introduced plans to finish a devoted observe facility. The crew at present practices at Mohegan Solar Enviornment or on the Mohegan Tribal Heart, a communal house. Whereas WNBA arenas range in measurement from roughly 4,000 to 18,000 in capability, the Solar are on the decrease finish of that vary, becoming simply shy of 9,000 followers.
Rizzotti credited the Mohegan Tribe for being “considerate” concerning the path the league is heading and argued it has “tried to do what’s greatest for not simply this crew, however for the league as a complete.” She has met with completely different possession teams in current months and mentioned the Mohegan Tribe has finished an intensive job of vetting potential new homeowners.
“Have they gotten handed by?” Rizzotti mentioned. “They know that, in some methods, however we have by no means suffered in loyalty and dedication and a terrific fan base and individuals who actually care about taking good care of our gamers.”
The Boston Globe, which first reported the settlement, additionally reported the league could drive the Mohegan Tribe to promote to a Connecticut-based purchaser and would like to offer Boston an enlargement crew in 2033.
“I am unable to think about that if there’s an funding group on the proper degree in a terrific metropolis, why anyone wouldn’t think about that to be a viable possibility,” Rizzotti mentioned.
The Solar offered out video games in 2024 and 2025 at Boston’s TD Backyard, and Rizzotti says her conversations with gamers across the league recommend they’d favor to play in a much bigger market with extra alternatives than Uncasville.
“Relocation choices are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and never by particular person crew,” the WNBA mentioned in a press release Saturday, including that cities that submitted enlargement bids have precedence over Boston in that course of.