The Mohegan Tribe, which has owned the franchise since buying and relocating the Orlando Miracle in 2003, is reportedly unhappy with the WNBA’s response to the sale of the Connecticut Sun. The ownership and Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had agreed to a mammoth deal worth $325M, with the latter planning to move the team to Boston.
The Mohegan Tribe is locked in a standoff with the WNBA that could derail the richest deal in women’s basketball history. What started as a straightforward $325 million sale to Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca has turned into a complex negotiation in which millions hang in the balance, and relocation rights are being disputed at the highest levels.
Why Is the WNBA Blocking the Connecticut Sun’s Move to Boston?
The league’s position centers on control over franchise locations and expansion strategy. According to ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne, the WNBA wants to direct the Sun toward one of its preferred expansion markets rather than allow the move to Boston.
The league’s stance became crystal clear in April when it sent a letter stating the Mohegan Tribe “does not have the right to change the playing site of home games outside of the Team Member’s Territory (defined as the 75-mile area surrounding Montville, Connecticut, and does not include Boston).”
In April, the league sent a letter stating the tribe “does not have the right to change the playing site of home games outside of the Team Member’s Territory (defined as the 75-mile area surrounding Montville, Connecticut and does not include Boston).” https://t.co/0XseNUlctG
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 19, 2025
Sources close to the ownership group say the tribe is frustrated and feels the league is presenting a one-path option: relocation of the team to a market of its choosing at a value of its choosing. The WNBA recently offered to purchase the Sun for $250 million without charging an additional relocation fee, allowing the league to facilitate a sale to one of its preferred expansion cities. However, this offer came before Pagliuca’s significantly higher $325 million bid was reported on August 2.
Mohegan Tribe Reportedly Miffed With WNBA’s Decision
Per ESPN’s Alexa Philippou and Ramona Shelburne, the tribe was ‘frustrated’ with the WNBA’s decision to see them provide only one relocation route. With the decision impacting a massive sale, they also proposed four options to the WNBA.
“A source close to the ownership group says the tribe is frustrated and feels the league is presenting a one-path option: relocation of the team to a market of its choosing at a value of its choosing,” the report said.
“The league, in recent weeks, offered to purchase the Sun for $250 million and not charge the buyer an additional relocation fee — which would allow the league to facilitate a sale to one of its preferred expansion cities, according to sources. Sources said that the offer was presented before Pagliuca’s bid of $325 million was reported on August 2.”
Earlier, the WNBA issued a statement saying relocation decisions would be made by the league’s board of governors and not by the individual teams. The WNBA will see two new teams in the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo next year. Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia have been marked as new cities with teams.
In April, the league sent a letter stating the tribe “does not have the right to change the playing site of home games outside of the Team Member’s Territory (defined as the 75-mile area surrounding Montville, Connecticut and does not include Boston).” https://t.co/0XseNUlctG
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) August 19, 2025
Pagliuca’s plans included moving the team to Boston by 2027 and setting up a dedicated $100M practice facility. While his deal didn’t explicitly say Boston, sources close to the ownership and knowledge of the move believed the Celtics’ home would also be the Sun’s new landing spot.
The Sun, owned by the tribe, purchased the franchise for $10 million and moved it from Orlando. The team was also the first in the league to be run by a non-NBA owner. They announced that the team was looking for a potential buyer this May.
On the season front, it has been a forgettable run for the Sun with a dismal 6-27 record. After sitting at the bottom of the league, they are well out of the playoff race. Only time will tell how they approach the final stretch of games remaining in the regular season.
