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Steve Pagliuca, a minority proprietor of the NBA’s Boston Celtics, reportedly reached a historic settlement to buy the WNBA’s Connecticut Solar.
Pagliuca agreed to purchase the Solar for $325 million, The Boston Globe reported.
The deal is pending, but when the Board of Governors grants last approval, the value tag can be the costliest sale in WNBA historical past.
“Relocation choices are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and never by particular person groups,” a press release from the league learn.
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The WNBA brand on a basketball at a recreation between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Solar at Local weather Pledge Enviornment June 20, 2023, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Pagliuca plans to relocate the franchise to Boston by the 2027 season. The deal additionally consists of guarantees to take a position $100 million in a brand new coaching web site in Boston for the staff. The Solar have some familiarity with Boston, having performed one regular-season recreation on the Celtics’ residence enviornment every of the previous two years.
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Studies of the document sale surfaced shortly after the WNBA introduced main enlargement plans. The league is poised to increase from 13 groups to 18 franchises by 2030. The Golden State Valkyries are of their inaugural season, whereas Portland and Toronto will debut groups of their respective cities in 2026.
The Connecticut Solar brand throughout a recreation between the Solar and the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse June 17, 2025, in Indianapolis. (Dylan Buell/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
Cleveland was awarded a franchise that may take the courtroom in 2028, whereas Detroit’s enlargement membership will start competing in 2029. Philadelphia’s staff will begin taking part in the next yr. Every of these cities agreed to a then-record $250 million enlargement price to safe the brand new groups.
The Solar play on the Mohegan Solar Enviornment. The Mohegan Tribe, the Solar’s present possession group, additionally controls the on line casino the place the staff has held residence video games for greater than 20 years. The Tribe bought the staff for $10 million that yr and moved the franchise from Orlando, Florida, to Connecticut.
A WNBA brand on the courtroom earlier than a recreation between the Connecticut Solar and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Extremely Enviornment June 25, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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Regardless of this yr’s 5-21 document, the Solar have traditionally been considered one of this league’s extra profitable franchises on and off the courtroom. The staff is credited with 16 postseason appearances and have become the primary WNBA franchise to turn into worthwhile.
The $325 million sale settlement is a pointy improve from the final couple of WNBA gross sales. In 2021, an funding group led by Larry Gottesdiener obtained unanimous approval to take management of the Altanta Dream. The deal closed for reportedly lower than $10 million. Las Vegas Raiders proprietor Mark Davis paid an estimated $2 million for the Aces that very same yr.