Connecticut Sun

The Connecticut Sun operated as a professional women's basketball team in the Women's National Basketball Association from 2003 until their relocation to Houston in late 2026. Based in Uncasville, the franchise played its home games at Mohegan Sun Arena inside the casino resort of the same name. The team served as the only major league professional sports entity in the state for over two decades.

Originally established as the Orlando Miracle in 1999, the franchise changed hands when the Mohegan Tribe purchased it in January 2003. This acquisition made the tribe the first Native American group to own a major professional sports team. The organization adopted the name Connecticut Sun and colors of orange, navy blue, and white to reflect local heritage.

For most of their existence in Connecticut, the Sun remained a consistent playoff contender without securing a championship title. They reached the WNBA Finals four times: losing to the Seattle Storm in 2004, the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005, the Washington Mystics in 2019, and the Las Vegas Aces in 2022. In March 2026, the Fertitta family agreed to buy the team and move operations to Houston, where they planned to revive the historic Houston Comets brand for the 2027 season. [düzenle]

The franchise began play in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle, one of two expansion teams joining the league alongside the Minnesota Lynx. Financial struggles plagued the early years, with the team missing the playoffs in four of their first five seasons. By 2002, the franchise had posted a 16-16 record but failed to qualify for the postseason, prompting the NBA's Orlando Magic to list the team for sale.

In January 2003, the Mohegan Tribal Nation acquired the franchise for approximately $10 million and relocated it to Uncasville, Connecticut. The new ownership renamed the team the Connecticut Sun, drawing inspiration from Mohegan symbolism for the logo and branding. The debut game took place in May 2003 before a sellout crowd of 9,341 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena. Under head coach Mike Thibault, the Sun quickly became a competitive force, reaching the WNBA Finals in consecutive years during 2004 and 2005.

Curt Miller took over coaching duties in 2019 and led the team back to the Finals that year, where they fell to the Washington Mystics in five games. Stephanie White guided the squad through another Finals appearance in 2022 against the Las Vegas Aces. Rachid Meziane assumed the head coaching role prior to the 2026 season, steering the team through their final campaign in Connecticut.

The franchise concluded its tenure in New England on September 24, 2026, defeating the Toronto Tempo 95-81 in front of an emotional sold-out crowd. This victory marked the end of a 23-year run in Uncasville. The Fertitta family officially purchased the team in March 2026 with plans to relocate to Houston and reactivate the Houston Comets name and logo for the 2027 season. [düzenle]