The important purchase that the Rockets are negotiating in the WNBA
The owners of the Texas franchise are in talks to purchase the Connecticut Sun
The Houston Rockets owners have intensified talks to acquire and relocate the Connecticut Sun, in a move that could bring a WNBA franchise back to Houston. According to sources consulted by ESPN, negotiations between both parties are at an advanced stage and have been described as positive, with an improved financial offer now within a range that the Sun is seriously considering.
According to a source close to the process, although there has been talk of a formal offer, there is still no exclusive agreement signed, and a definitive decision has not yet been made regarding the franchise's future. Nevertheless, dialogue remains open and active between the parties involved.
The WNBA's interest in returning to Houston is not new. When the league announced expansion to three new teams last June, commissioner Cathy Engelbert publicly mentioned both the city and the Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, highlighting them as a priority option for the league's growth.
The Sun began over a year ago an exploration process of investment options, intending initially to sell a minority stake to fund infrastructure improvements. However, several groups—including Houston—showed interest in a complete purchase of the franchise, ultimately raising the Rockets' offer to $250 million.
The Celtics have already attempted the same
In early July, the Sun owners reached an agreement to sell the team for a record $325 million to a group led by Steve Pagliuca, former minority owner of the Boston Celtics, with the intention of relocating the franchise to Boston.
However, the WNBA blocked that operation, clarifying that relocation decisions fall exclusively under the league's Board of Governors, not individual teams. Additionally, the league prioritizes cities that have gone through the expansion process, putting Boston in a disadvantageous position.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La importante compra que están negociando los Rockets en la WNBA
