The push to bring the WNBA back to Houston, where one of the league’s original franchises won four championships, is getting more intense.
According to the latest report from ESPN, the Houston Rockets ownership group is in “substantial” negotiations with the Connecticut Sun about purchasing and relocating the team. Negotiations have been described as “positive” and Rockets ownership is proceeding with a purchase offer acceptable to the Suns. While an exclusivity agreement has yet to be signed and a decision has yet to be made regarding the franchise, a formal offer has been discussed.
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USA TODAY has reached out to the WNBA for comment.
News of the Rockets’ offer comes nearly six months after WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert singled out Houston by name on June 30 when she announced the additions to Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia. Houston did not receive an offer at the time after becoming involved in the process later.
“There were obviously a lot of cities bidding, and one of them I want to give a shout out to is Houston because they have such a long history in this league and they’re a great ownership group,” Engelbert said at the time.
Over the past few months, the Suns have been exploring options to “strategically invest in the team,” including a potential sale. In August, it was reported that a group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had reached an agreement to buy the Suns for a record $325 million and move the team to Boston. However, the WNBA reportedly blocked the deal, saying the first city to apply for expansion would have “priority over Boston.”
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Suns ownership then attempted to present several options to the WNBA to salvage the sale of the team, including a plan that would have allowed Connecticut to purchase a stake in the team to keep the Suns there. According to a new report from ESPN, there are growing hopes that Connecticut’s future will be determined before the start of the 2026 free agency period.
However, the date for free agency remains to be seen and cannot move forward until a new league CBA is in place. The WNBA and WNBA Players Association agreed to a Jan. 9 deadline but recently voted to further complicate negotiations if they continue.
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This article originally appeared in USA Today: Houston Rockets owner in talks to buy, transfer WNBA Connecticut Sun players
