WNBA's Cathy Engelbert Hints at Possible New England Return in the 2030s

This season marks the end of the WNBA's presence in New England, following the sale of the Connecticut Sun. Earlier this spring, the Mohegan Tribe finalized a deal with billionaire Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets and U.S. Ambassador to Italy, for approximately $300 million. Fertitta intends to relocate the team to Houston and revitalize the Comets franchise, which has a storied history with four championship titles.

Despite the current absence in the region, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert remains optimistic about the league's potential future in New England. While speaking to reporters in Portland, Oregon, Engelbert mentioned that she envisions a scenario where expansion bids from New England ownership could be considered. “Great fanbase,” she remarked about the Sun. “When you look at — I think they’re going to do a couple of games in Hartford this year, another game in Boston … New England is a great market for sports. So, yeah, do I foresee in the 2030s, if we were to do expansion again, them being part of the process, that region? Yes.”

Engelbert emphasized that no ownership group from Boston submitted a bid during the previous expansion round, which saw franchises awarded to Golden State, Toronto, Portland, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Detroit. She expressed hope that this might change in the future.

The Mohegan Tribe's exploration of selling the Sun began in early 2025, with two attempted sales to Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca and former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry. However, neither transaction received WNBA approval. Pagliuca aimed to relocate the team to Boston, while Lasry wanted to maintain the franchise in Connecticut, playing in Hartford.

Fertitta's interest in returning the WNBA to Houston was first announced in 2024 when he submitted a bid for an expansion team but was ultimately not selected. The Comets were one of the league's inaugural teams in 1997 and, under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor, secured the first four WNBA titles with the help of notable players like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson.

In related comments, Engelbert noted that she has no updates regarding the ongoing investigation into the Aces for allegedly circumventing the salary cap, adding that the league plans to conduct a one-month check-in with the game council and officiating committee soon.