Boston lost the Connecticut Sun because a future expansion team benefits WNBA owners more than a sale

If the Sun fetched $300 million in 2026, how much would a Boston expansion procure in 2033, with that money being split among WNBA teams?

Apr. 11, 2026 at 2:53pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a WNBA basketball game, with the players and court broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a color palette of navy, green, and red, conveying the conceptual idea of the league's strategic priorities.The WNBA's strategic decision to prioritize expansion over selling an existing franchise highlights the league's long-term vision for growth and profit.Boston Today

The WNBA preferred to award an expansion franchise to Houston over selling the Connecticut Sun to Boston, as a future Boston expansion team would benefit the league's owners more financially than a one-time sale of the Sun.

Why it matters

This decision highlights the WNBA's focus on long-term league growth and owner profits over immediately meeting the demand for a WNBA team in the lucrative Boston market. It suggests the league views expansion as a more valuable strategy than relocations, even if it means denying an established fanbase in Boston.

The details

A source close to the issue said Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta was livid when Houston was not awarded an expansion franchise, and then shifted his focus to purchasing the Sun. The WNBA is widely known to prefer teams governed by NBA owners, and the Sun was offered to Fertitta to appease him - at the expense of Boston's bid. There is also a financial component, as the price of a new Boston franchise would be split amongst all the league's owners, whereas a Sun sale would only benefit the tribe that currently owns the team.

  • In 2026, the Connecticut Sun was valued at $300 million.
  • In 2033, a Boston expansion team would likely fetch an even higher valuation, with that money split among WNBA owners.

The players

Tilman Fertitta

The owner of the Houston Rockets who was denied an expansion franchise and then shifted his focus to purchasing the Connecticut Sun.

Bill Chisholm

The Celtics governor who the WNBA is interested in having as a participating party in bringing a team to Boston.

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What’s next

Boston will now have to wait for the WNBA to eventually expand into the lucrative Boston market, which the league views as more beneficial to its owners than selling an existing franchise to the city.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the WNBA's prioritization of long-term league growth and owner profits over immediately meeting fan demand in major markets like Boston. It suggests the league views expansion as a more valuable strategy than relocations, even if it means denying an established fanbase in a key city.