Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta’s company entered into an agreement made public in March to purchase the Women’s National Basketball Association’s Connecticut Sun, an American professional basketball team that finished 11-33 in the Eastern Conference in 2025.
What we know
The agreement, which was announced on the Houston Rockets’ social media page March 30, involves relocating the franchise to Houston and rebranding the team as the Houston Comets, a historic title tied to the former WNBA team that was based in Houston from 1997 to 2008.
Pending league approval, the franchise is expected to begin playing at the Toyota Center for the start of the 2027 WNBA season, per the post.
“My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Houston Comets back to this incredible city,” said Rockets Alternate Governor Patrick Fertitta in a March 30 news release. “Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA, with banners from the Comets’ four historic championship seasons still hanging in the rafters of Toyota Center. We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball.
The Houston Comets won four consecutive championships from 1997 to 2000. (Courtesy WNBA via Facebook)The history
The Houston Comets were one of the WNBA’s original eight franchises, and during their reign, they won four consecutive championships from 1997 to 2000. The team also set several records in attendance during that timeframe and made nine playoff appearances.
After 12 seasons in the WNBA, the team was disbanded in December 2008 following the conclusion of the season, according to the Texas State Historical Association. The existing players—such as Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson—were allotted to the league’s other franchises.
The impact
The WNBA has been experiencing a surge in popularity in recent years, with the league setting an all-time attendance record of over 2.5 million fans in 2025, according to ESPN‘s website. The league also averaged around 11,148 fans per game last season, a 13% increase from 2024.
Gretchen Sheirr, resident of business operations for the Houston Rockets, said the city is excited to ‘revive the legacy of the Comets’ and bring that growing momentum to Houston.
“The momentum and enthusiasm have been evident through the overwhelming interest from fans and the business community, all eager to support the return of this franchise,” she said. “It is a true testament to the continued growth and investment in women’s sports, which deserve a place on the world’s biggest stages.”
Before you go
Fans can visit the new Houston Comets website to place a $99 per seat deposit and secure priority access to season tickets for the return of the Houston Comets. Residents can also sign up for insider updates and purchase official WNBA Houston merchandise.
The Connecticut Sun will play their final season at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut in 2026 before relocating to Houston.