Breaking: Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca poised to purchase Connecticut Sun in record‑setting $325 million deal with plans to relocate team to Boston by 2027
Steve Pagliuca, minority owner of the Boston Celtics, is reportedly leading a group that has agreed to acquire the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun for an unprecedented $325 million—a historic high for any professional women’s sports franchise. The proposed transaction, first reported by the Boston Globe and confirmed by Associated Press sources, would include an additional $100 million investment in a state‑of‑the‑art practice facility in Boston, with relocation targeted for the 2027 season Reddit+15SI+15ABC News+15.
Pending approval from the WNBA Board of Governors, this acquisition would set a new benchmark by compounding the league’s recent franchise valuation explosion—expansion teams sold for $250 million last year. It marks a dramatic rise from the Mohegan Tribe’s $10 million purchase of the team in 2003 New York Post+13Sportcal+13NBC Boston+13.
The Connecticut Sun, based in Uncasville since its 2003 relocation from Orlando, has never had a dedicated training facility and currently practices in shared community spaces. The proposed Boston‑based $100 million facility would remedy that long‑standing deficiency and position the franchise for top‑tier competitiveness SBNation.com+5CT Insider+5CT Insider+5.
While Boston has hosted two regular‑season Sun games at TD Garden in recent seasons and sold them out, drawing strong local interest, the WNBA has expressed that Boston wasn’t included in its most recent expansion process. The league reportedly prefers to reserve the city for a possible expansion entrant in 2033 rather than approving a relocation at this time. Nonetheless, proponents argue that Boston’s large market, passionate fan base, and proven demand make relocation a natural progression for the league’s growth CT Insider+9nbcsportsboston.com+9boston.com+9.
WNBA leadership maintains that relocation decisions rest with its Board of Governors and may require encouraging a Connecticut‑based buyer to keep the team in Uncasville—a stance at odds with sources indicating the Tribe’s preference to sell to Pagliuca’s group New York Post+14NBC Boston+14SI+14.
Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti emphasized that no transaction is final, underscoring the ongoing exploratory nature of talks and the importance of league and community consensus before any changes take effect New York Post+2CT Insider+2Sportcal+2. The Sun are expected to remain in Connecticut through the 2026 season, underlining that the transition—if approved—would not take place until 2027 New York Post+4CT Insider+4Sportcal+4.
Financial Impact and Broader Context
The staggering $325 million asking price amounts to a return of over 3,200% on the Mohegan Tribe’s original investment—turning $10 million into a massive windfall. It’s also setting a new threshold well above previous record‑setting deals, such as Chelsea Women’s sale in England—valued at approximately $265 million—and eclipsing the $250 million WNBA expansion team fees seen last year CT Insider.
This record‑breaking price reflects how dramatically WNBA franchises have appreciated amid rising media revenues, expanding national visibility, and investor enthusiasm. However, the spike also comes amid contentious labor negotiations, with players—who currently receive under 10% of league revenue—to be renegotiated in a collective bargaining agreement expiring October 31, 2025 San Francisco Chronicle. The sale adds fuel to player demands for greater revenue sharing, better travel conditions, and roster stability.
Local Reaction and Strategic Considerations
The proposed relocation has triggered a mix of excitement and concern. In Connecticut, fans and community members have expressed disappointment at the potential loss of their team, invoking past feelings of abandonment after the NHL’s Hartford Whalers relocation in 1997. Many fear a loss of identity, tradition, and regional pride tied to the Sun’s two‑decade presence in Uncasville San Francisco ChronicleCT Insider.
Conversely, supporters in Massachusetts—including Governor Maura Healey and regional sports figures—have actively backed the proposal, citing Boston’s strong ticket sales for past Sun games, vibrant women’s sports culture, and the benefit of a modern infrastructure investment that the current Connecticut facility lacks nbcsportsboston.com.
From a practical standpoint, relocating to TD Garden (19,580 capacity) offers a far larger market than Mohegan Sun Arena’s 9,000 seats. Plans suggest some games may initially be played in Providence to accommodate TD Garden scheduling conflicts with Celtics and Bruins seasons New York Post.
Future Outlook
If approved, the new ownership and relocation could accelerate the WNBA’s growth trajectory, embedding the Sun in one of the nation’s top sports cities and energizing investment in women’s professional basketball. It would also represent an inflection point—shifting from expansion‑driven growth to strategic relocations backed by high‑voltage capital.
Yet critical hurdles remain: team sale approval by the Board of Governors; potential pressure for a Connecticut‑based bid; regulatory and contractual negotiations; and addressing the emotional backlash from the team’s Connecticut base.
As of early August 2025, no binding agreement has been signed, and Pagliuca’s group has publicly stated: “No transaction has been agreed yet,” while outlining their ambition to honor the Sun’s legacy and commit long‑term investment in building a championship program in Boston NBC Boston.
The prospects are clear: by 2027, Boston could gain a WNBA franchise catapulted into the city’s sports ecosystem, backed by institutional investment and soaring franchise value. But whether that becomes reality hinges on WNBA governance, regional sentiment, and the final stamp of approval from league leadership.
