WNBA Team Could Be Headed for Boston Relocation, and Fans Are Already Sharing Their Thoughts originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The WNBA has experienced a significant surge in ticket sales, TV ratings, jersey sales and overall popularity in recent seasons — prompting a wave of investor interest in either launching expansion teams or acquiring existing franchises.
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On Saturday, the latter came to fruition. According to the Boston Globe, a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has reached a deal to buy the Connecticut Sun for a record $325 million.
But that’s not all. Once the WNBA approves the sale, Pagliuca reportedly has plans to relocate the franchise from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, to Boston as soon as 2027.
However, according to the Globe, the league would rather use Boston as an expansion city in 2033.
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What WNBA Fans Are Saying
The news drew plenty of reactions from fans on social media, with many of them having mixed feelings about it.
“Yes sirrrrrr!!!!!!,” one fan said.
“Poor Connecticut lol,” another wrote.
“we are in utter shock,” added another.
“FINALLY,” said a fan.
“Definitely sad to see this because they’ve been here so long and I’ve had a blast being able to photograph the team as well as the former @UConnWBB stars who come to town with their respective teams,” wrote a fan.
“WNBA IN BOSTON!!!!!,” said another.
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The History of the Connecticut Sun
The Sun initially entered the WNBA in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle, but after several seasons, the Mohegan Tribe purchased the team and relocated it to Uncasville in 2003.
With that move, the Mohegan Tribe became the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports franchise and quickly built the team into a consistent contender. Although the Sun have reached the WNBA Finals four times, they have yet to win a championship.
Connecticut Sun guard Saniya Rivers, center, and teammates before the start of a game against the New York Liberty.© David Butler II-Imagn Images
In recent years, however, the Sun have often been viewed as a potential relocation candidate — largely because of their market. Uncasville, with a population of just 11,060, has long posed challenges for the franchise in terms of attracting top talent and building a larger fan base.
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Recognizing these struggles, the Mohegan Tribe began exploring a sale in May and hired Allen & Co. to assist with the process. Just a few months later, they reached an agreement with Pagliuca.
New Cities Are Joining the WNBA
Some major cities are set to join the WNBA in the coming years. This season kicks off the league’s most ambitious expansion era yet, with the San Francisco-based Golden State Valkyries in the midst of their inaugural campaign. Four more franchises are already lined up to follow:
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Cleveland (Name TBD) – 2028
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Detroit (Name TBD) – 2029
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Philadelphia (Name TBD) – 2030
Related: Sun Guard Marina Mabrey Gets a Tech After Standing Up For Her Teammate
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
