A report from the Boston Globe says that the Connecticut Solar is about to make a long-awaited transfer to Beantown below 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 new file for the acquisition of a girls’s skilled sports activities franchise.
Below 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 objective can 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 also be mentioned to incorporate development on a $100 million observe 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 not too long ago 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 supplied an announcement of the potential sale in a press releasing. Acknowledging Detroit, Philadelphia, and Cleveland had been not too long ago awarded growth franchises, “9 further cities additionally utilized for WNBA groups and stay below lively consideration.“
Within the press launch, the WNBA said no group from Boston “utilized for a staff on the time,” which means different cities will proceed to be thought of for growth 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 advised Connecticut Solar’s Terrika Foster-Brasby the Solar is taken into account an acquisition staff slightly than growth. Whereas Rizzotti is uncertain whether or not Boston was within the growth bid—she double’s down on the very fact the acquisition and relocation wants approval by the league.
“If they’re excited about acquisition, that will be them going on to our funding agency and dealing instantly with our possession group,” Rizzotti advised Foster-Brasby. “Course of clever, if any individual in that space determined to buy the staff outright—they nonetheless have to undergo a course of with the league to get approval to relocate.”
The Solar isn’t any stranger to Boston, having performed a sport 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 house video games might be staged at Mohegan Solar Enviornment.
The Solar Have Known 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 Staff 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 growth bid. Her reply ⬇️: #WNBATwitrer pic.twitter.com/ht3KROeY5n
— Terrika (@SheKnowsSports) August 3, 2025
Since then, the Solar, named after their house and the Tribe’s on line casino/resort Mohegan Solar in Uncasville, has hosted a number of the most achieved names in WNBA historical past, similar 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 one in all three WNBA franchise to win at the least 500 video games alongside the Los Angeles Sparks and Minnesota Lynx.
Extra not too long ago, nevertheless, the shortage of a devoted facility has blunted momentum in Uncasville, with the Solar typically pressured to share the realm’s observe courts with camps and occasions. Connecticut (5-22) can also be presently 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 towards the New York Liberty and can kick off a four-game highway journey on Tuesday in Phoenix.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
