The Comets are officially slated for a comeback, as the WNBA and the Fertitta family confirmed on Monday that the Houston Rockets owners will buy the Connecticut Sun and relocate the franchise to Texas.
Previously owned by the Mohegan Tribe, the Sun will spend the 2026 WNBA season in Uncasville before tipping off the 2027 campaign in the Lone Star State.
“I would have loved to remain in the region for our fan base,” Sun president Jen Rizzotti told The AP. “I’m at a point now where my focus turns to making this the best season we can have…. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to them.”
Though the sale still requires approval from the WNBA Board of Governors, the Comets are already staffing up, with reports emerging that newly tapped Houston assistant GM and vice president of analytics Kevin Pelton — a former ESPN NBA journalist — will work alongside the Sun’s front office to transition the team this year.
The Comets’ new owners are aiming to return the franchise to its initial heights, with Houston winning the first four WNBA championships from 1997 to 2000 — fueled by stars Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson.
The team then suspended operations in 2009, hanging onto the brand rights for potential future investment.
“Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA,” said Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta in a Monday press release. “We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball.”
How to buy Houston Comets merch, season tickets
Fans can both register for updates and lock in 2027 season tickets at HoustonComets.com.
To coincide with the historic sale, the team also dropped a limited edition apparel line of WNBA Houston T-shirts, polos, hoodies, and more, available now at RocketsShop.com.