Sale of Sun, move to Boston now in WNBA’s hands

As reported in the Globe Saturday, a group led by Pagliuca has reached a deal to buy the Connecticut Sun from the Mohegan Tribe for a record $325 million and move the team to Boston. The franchise wouldn’t play in its new home until the 2027 season. Pagliuca also would contribute $100 million for a new practice facility in Boston for the team.

“Central to our proposal is enabling the Sun to play in larger capacity arenas in New England,” Pagliuca wrote. “We believe our record-setting offer and deep commitment to growing the WNBA in the region that is home to the most passionate basketball fans in the nation will significantly benefit the league, the team, and all its fans.”

The sale is pending approval of the league and its Board of Governors.

“Our offer is subject to obtaining the required league approvals, as is the case for all such transactions,” Pagliuca wrote. “This approval has not been obtained thus far, and we cannot proceed without it. We will respect, cooperate with, and abide by all league rules and decisions on these matters.”

The league put out a statement Saturday, saying that moving a team was at the discretion of the WNBA and not individual franchises.

“Relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams,” the league said in a statement.

One source told the Globe the WNBA would rather save Boston as a potential expansion city in 2033. The league has already announced expansion to Portland (Ore.), Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia over the next five years.

There was also more news Sunday night that added a new wrinkle to the equation. The Hartford Courant reported an investment group led by billionaire Marc Lasry, a former owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, is attempting to compete with Boston’s offer to keep the team in Connecticut with a home at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford. The Hartford group’s bid also exceeds $300 million and includes plans to construct a new dedicated practice facility for the team.

The Mohegan Tribe had a period of exclusivity to sell to the Boston group which has since expired, so both offers reportedly remain on the table.