A report from the Boston Globe says that the Connecticut Solar is about to make a long-awaited transfer to Beantown underneath new administration.
TD Backyard may very well be getting loads of Solar within the close to future.
Per a report from Chad Finn of the Boston Globe, the WNBA’s Connecticut Solar has been bought from the Mohegan Tribe by a gaggle led by Boston Celtics minority proprietor Steve Pagliuca at $325 million price ticket, which might set a brand new report for the acquisition of a girls’s skilled sports activities franchise.
Beneath such a sale, the Solar would transfer to Boston, the place they’d play on the famed parquet of TD Backyard, which additionally homes the Nationwide Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. Finn’s report states the aim could be to be in Beantown full-time by the 2027 season, with potential early-season video games staged in Windfall if conflicts with the Bruins and Celtics’ schedules come up. Pagliuca’s bid can be stated to incorporate building on a $100 million follow facility within the metropolis.
Right here’s an announcement from a WNBA spokesperson to @TheAthletic re: a possible sale of the Solar to Steve Pagliuca (and a possible transfer to Boston) https://t.co/O8D8Ts05DM pic.twitter.com/lqPhIqkjWi
— Ben Pickman (@benpickman) August 2, 2025
Pagliuca, 70, is the co-chairman of Boston-based funding agency Bain Capital and likewise serves as the bulk proprietor of Italian soccer membership Atalanta. He was a member of the Celtics’ earlier possession group, Boston Basketball Companions, and lately made a bid for a bigger share of the franchise, although he misplaced out to Invoice Chisholm.
Sale of the Connecticut Solar Awaits WNBA Board Approval
Following the information, a WNBA spokesperson offered an announcement of the potential sale in a press releasing. Acknowledging Detroit, Philadelphia, and Cleveland have been lately awarded enlargement franchises, “9 further cities additionally utilized for WNBA groups and stay underneath energetic consideration.“
Within the press launch, the WNBA acknowledged no group from Boston “utilized for a staff on the time,” that means different cities will proceed to be thought-about for enlargement previous 2030.
Any sale would require approval from the WNBA Board of Governors. Finn’s report states the league may additionally pressure the Mohegan Tribe to promote to a gaggle that chooses to maintain the staff in Connecticut. On Sunday, Connecticut Solar Jennifer Rizzotti instructed Connecticut Solar’s Terrika Foster-Brasby the Solar is taken into account an acquisition staff somewhat than enlargement. Whereas Rizzotti is not sure whether or not Boston was within the enlargement bid—she double’s down on the actual fact the acquisition and relocation wants approval by the league.
“If they’re interested by acquisition, that will be them going on to our funding agency and dealing immediately with our possession group,” Rizzotti instructed Foster-Brasby. “Course of sensible, if someone in that space determined to buy the staff outright—they nonetheless must undergo a course of with the league to get approval to relocate.”
The Solar is not any stranger to Boston, having performed a recreation at TD Backyard in every of the previous two seasons. Sellout crowds took in every of the 2 showings, the final being an 85-77 defeat to the Indiana Fever on July 15. Whereas one other Boston-based battle may very well be on the horizon subsequent season, season-ticket holders have already been knowledgeable that 2026 residence video games can be staged at Mohegan Solar Enviornment.
The Solar Have Referred to as Connecticut Residence Since 2003
The Solar franchise started life because the Orlando Miracle, a sister group of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, in 1999. The Miracle performed 4 seasons at Orlando Enviornment (then-known as TD Waterhouse Middle) earlier than it was bought and rebranded by the Mohegan Tribe.
I requested Connecticut Workforce President Jen Rizzotti on whether or not or not the connection between the Solar & Boston performed a job in how the proposal was introduced vs an official enlargement bid. Her reply ⬇️: #WNBATwitrer pic.twitter.com/ht3KROeY5n
— Terrika (@SheKnowsSports) August 3, 2025
Since then, the Solar, named after their residence and the Tribe’s on line casino/resort Mohegan Solar in Uncasville, has hosted a few of the most achieved names in WNBA historical past, equivalent to DeWanna Bonner, Tina Charles, Katie Douglas, Jonquel Jones, Nykesha Gross sales, and Alyssa Thomas. Although the Solar has but to win a championship, it stands as considered one of three WNBA franchise to win at the least 500 video games alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx.
Extra lately, nonetheless, the dearth of a devoted facility has blunted momentum in Uncasville, with the Solar typically pressured to share the world’s follow courts with camps and occasions. Connecticut (5-22) can be at present engaged in a rebuild, although it did handle to earn a stunning upset win over the defending champion New York Liberty on Friday evening.
Connecticut wrapped up a six-game homestand on Sunday afternoon in opposition to the New York Liberty and can kick off a four-game highway journey on Tuesday in Phoenix.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
