Fertitta Reaches Deal to buy WNBA Connecticut Sun

Houston Rockets owner and U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, Tillman Fertitta, is looking to the women’s basketball league for his next team purchase.

Fertitta Entertainment entered an agreement to acquire the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun and relocate the franchise to Houston for the 2027 season. The Houston Rockets confirmed the deal on Monday, following an initial report by PaperCity Magazine regarding the record $300 million acquisition price. This valuation, reported by the Houston Business Journal, sets a new benchmark for WNBA franchise teams and reflects the rising commercial value of women’s professional sports.

Under the proposed plan, which is pending league approval, the team will revive the historic Houston Comets brand. The franchise is slated to play its home games at the Toyota Center, the primary indoor arena in Houston’s central business district.

Patrick Fertitta, the Rockets’ Alternate Governor, stated that the organization believes the time is right to begin the next era of Houston Comets basketball. The team was a cornerstone of the WNBA’s early years before the team was dissolved in 2008 due to a lack of ownership. He said that the team’s championship banners still hang in the rafters of the Toyota Center, highlighting the venue’s historical significance to the brand.

The return of the franchise under Fertitta Entertainment provides long-term stability for the team’s operations at the Toyota Center. The relocation follows a sustained effort by Tilman Fertitta to secure a WNBA team for the Houston market, according to the publication.

Although a 2025 expansion bid was unsuccessful, this acquisition allows Fertitta Entertainment to secure a franchise by purchasing an existing team rather than waiting for future expansion rounds.

Market data supports the viability of the move, with a July University of Houston survey indicating that 64 percent of local residents expressed enthusiasm for the team’s return, according to the publication. High levels of consumer interest often correlate with increased foot traffic and secondary economic activity in surrounding commercial real estate corridors.

The acquisition occurs amid a restructuring of Tilman Fertitta’s business interests following his 2025 confirmation as an ambassador. While he has resigned from leadership roles at Landry’s, he maintains his ownership stake in the Houston Rockets and related sports assets.— Eric Weilbacher