U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has called for a federal investigation into the WNBA over its role in the sale of the Connecticut Sun. His remarks came as the franchise is reportedly set to be sold for $300 million and moved out of Connecticut.
The team is expected to relocate to Houston, ending a long effort to keep the state’s only major professional team in place.
Why Sen. Richard Blumenthal Is Calling for a DOJ Probe into the Connecticut Sun’s Sale
The reported sale comes after a months-long push to keep the Sun in Connecticut failed. The Fertitta family, which owns the Houston Rockets, has reached a deal to buy the franchise. The team is expected to move to Houston and begin play there in 2027 after one final season in Uncasville in 2026.
Blumenthal posted a strong message on X, accusing the league of interfering in the process.
“WNBA put a full court press on blocking the Sun from staying in CT — deeply harmful to fans that live & breathe basketball. DOJ should investigate & stop such anticompetitive interference.”
Houston had already been on the league’s radar. Back in June 2025, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert said the city and owner Tilman Fertitta were up next, showing clear interest in bringing a team back there.
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The Sun have been owned by the Mohegan Tribe since 2003. The group bought and moved the former Orlando Miracle to Connecticut, becoming the first non-NBA ownership group in the league and the first Native American tribe to own a pro team.
Blumenthal, meanwhile, had already warned the league months ago over the sale. In a letter sent last September, he told the WNBA to stay out of talks between the tribe and potential buyers.
He said any move to block efforts to keep the team in Connecticut could break federal antitrust laws. He also warned he would push for investigations if the league interfered.
During the sale process, the Mohegan Tribe explored multiple offers. Two bids aimed to keep the team in the region by moving it to Boston or Hartford, with valuations around $325 million.
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However, the league did not support those options, saying cities that had gone through its expansion process would get priority. It also cited that any final deal still needs approval from the league’s Board of Governors.
Earlier, the WNBA had also made a $250 million offer to buy the team itself and relocate it, but the tribe did not accept, believing the value was higher.
The franchise began exploring investment options in May 2025 and is now set to be sold for $300 million. An official announcement on the deal is expected Monday, per ESPN; however, it still needs the approval of the WNBA’s Board of Governors.
