When the Connecticut Sun tip off their WNBA season-opener against the New York Liberty on Friday night, it will be the beginning of their final season in the Northeast. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has agreed to purchase the team and will move them to Houston in time for the 2027 season.
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After eight straight playoff appearances, the Sun hit rock bottom last season, posting a franchise-worst record of 11-33. Houston Comets fans are eyeing their future team as one in a rebuild, focusing on young players. And while the roster shows that this team is in a youth movement, the team is motivated to leave Connecticut on a high note.
“It’s the final season in Connecticut, so we want to give our best to our fans,” Sun head coach Rachid Meziane told CT Insider. “Give the best memories to our fans and also take some pride to be part of this story. Because this franchise, this organization has been a strong story. (We want to) have fun and take a lot of pleasure to be together, to fight every night together, and give our best every single night.”
Connecticut fans can focus on wins and good memories in 2026, but people in Houston will be looking to the future.
Here are the names to watch with the Connecticut Sun this season and as the franchise makes the transition to Houston in 2027…
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Brittney Griner
Brittney Griner was introduced by the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun on Friday, April 17, 2026 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. (Courtesty of Connecticut Sun)
After not bringing back talented veterans like Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles – last year’s two leading scorers – the Sun did add 35-year-old Brittney Griner. Now, that’s a veteran who makes sense for the situation since Griner grew up in Houston. Although Griner signed a one-year deal worth $1.19 million, if all goes well this season, she’s expected to be at the forefront when the WNBA returns to her hometown next year as well. The 6-foot-9 Griner is a nine-time All-Star and even at her age, ESPN still listed her in its annual ranking of the WNBA’s top 50 current players. No other Sun player made the list.
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Leila Lacan of the Connecticut Sun brings the ball up against the Indiana Fever in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, 2025 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
Even with Griner on the roster, Lacan may still be the best player on the Sun. She’s certainly the most promising. WNBA fans won’t be able to see Lacan play with the Sun until later this month, because Basket Landes, her French professional team, is still in the playoffs and the 21-year-old point guard was named the EuroLeague’s Rising Star this season after averaging 12.6 points, 2.6 assists, 2 steals and 2.9 rebounds per game during the regular season. Lacan also is the Sun’s top returning scorer after averaging 10.4 points as a rookie last season.
Guard Saniya Rivers (22) of the Connecticut Sun drives around guard Dara Mabrey (15) of the Toronto Tempo during the preseason game at Coca-Cola Coliseum on April 29, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Bailey McLean/Getty Images)
Rivers, who won a national championship at South Carolina and was a 2025 first-round pick of the Sun out of North Carolina State, had a promising rookie season. She didn’t make the WNBA’s All-Defensive team, but she was one of the league’s best defenders, ranking fourth in steals, and is one of the most athletic players in the women’s game.
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Aneesah Morrow (24) of the Connecticut Sun celebrates a three pointer during the preseason game at Coca-Cola Coliseum on April 29, 2026 in Toronto, Canada. (Bailey McLean/Getty Images)
The Sun’s other first-round pick in 2025, Morrow was a star at LSU and was impressive as a rookie, averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds last season. Morrow showed a lot of improvement in the offseason, playing in Athletes Unlimited and that has appeared to carry over for her. In a preseason game, Morrow led the Sun with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and a block against the expansion Toronto Tempo.
Hailey Van Lith of the Chicago Sky looks on during the second half against the Atlanta Dream on April 29, 2026 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The 24-year-old guard has yet to many any impact in the WNBA, but she was a college star at Louisville, LSU and TCU and has more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram, making her one of the most recognizable Sun players After the Chicago Sky drafted her 11th overall last year, Van Lith averaged just 3.5 points in 12.4 minutes per game. She was waived by the Sky in training camp Monday and signed by the Sun the next day.
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Ashlon Jackson
Valkyries guard Ashlon Jackson shoots during pre-season training at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on Thursday, April 22, 2026. (Manuel Orbegozo/For the S.F. Chronicle)
Jackson is unlikely to see a lot of minutes as a rookie, but she’s another local product who could be an attractive piece when the team moves to Houston. The former Hardin-Jefferson High School star finished her career at Duke as the program’s third-leading 3-point shooter. She was selected in the second round by the Golden State Valkyries, but when she didn’t make the team, the Sun signed her to a developmental contract.
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This article originally published at Which players Houston Comets fans should be watching as Connecticut Sun open WNBA season Friday.