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The Houston Comets were one of the original WNBA franchises when the league was founded in 1997. The WNBA opened with a bang because of the Comets, who reigned supreme for four straight years to capture the first four championships in WNBA history.
The Comets boasted all-time WNBA legends, namely Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson — the “Big 3” who led Houston to a 4-peat. Staley even ended her Hall of Fame WNBA career with the Comets in 2005 and 2006.
Still, after nine playoff appearances in 12 seasons, the Comets couldn’t be saved in Houston. Then-Houston Rockets owner Leslie Alexander sold the Comets to Hilton Koch for approximately $10 million in early 2008, as reported by the Houston Chronicle at the time. Financial trouble ensued, and the Comets were disbanded after the 2008 season.
In May 2024, Alex Schiffer wrote a piece for Front Office Sports that laid out all the reasons why the WNBA should return a franchise to Houston — a sentiment echoed throughout WNBA circles since the team left.
On Friday, there was a significant development.
PaperCity Magazine’s Chris Baldwin exclusively reported that the Fertitta family “has reached a deal” to buy the Connecticut Sun. Tilman Fertitta owns the Rockets. Baldwin wrote that the WNBA’s official announcement is expected to hit next week.
“The agreement is ‘unofficially done,’ a source tells PaperCity,” Baldwin relayed. “The team is expected to be renamed the Houston Comets after the Bayou City’s previous beloved WNBA team.”
Baldwin noted that the new-look Comets would rejoin the WNBA for the 2027 season.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou confirmed Baldwin’s reporting and added her own reporting.
“The team was sold for $300 million, sources said, a record-breaking purchase of a WNBA team,” Philippou wrote. “The team will play one final season in Uncasville, Connecticut, in 2026 before relocating in 2027. An official announcement is expected Monday.”
The Orlando Miracle relocated and rebranded as the Connecticut Sun in 2003. Since arriving in Connecticut, the Sun have made four WNBA Finals appearances (2004, ’05, ’19, and ’22) but remain ringless.
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