A simple transaction between buyer and seller would involve exchanging the desired product or service for the value agreed upon. But in the WNBA, the transaction of a franchise is not so straightforward. According to reports, the Connecticut Sun owners agreed to sell the majority stake to Boston Celtics’ part-owner Steve Pagliuca.
However, the league has yet to approve the sale, and it has not provided reasons for this. Frustrated by the delay and possible denial of the deal, the franchise owners have devised four different options to finalize the sale.
Connecticut Sun Owners Present Multiple Options
The organization has been running the franchise at a loss for nearly two decades and wants to cut the ‘debt’. While there is clearly growth in the WNBA landscape, the Mohegan Sun Tribe, owners of the Sun franchise, do not want to be a part of it and have clear intentions to sell their majority shares.
While the owners are ready to sell the team to Celtic’s part owners, possibly moving the team to Boston proved to be the deal breaker. The WNBA argued that Boston, one of the storied cities in NBA history, didn’t participate in the previous three bid calls for league expansion. Also, the league’s board of directors has the right to confirm the franchise’s relocation. The WNBA even offered $250 million for the franchise.
As per ESPN’s report, the Connecticut Sun Ownership group feels that the league is only forcing one way on them, in which they are losing money. So they came up with four different options for the league to choose from.
The first option, which they have already acted upon, is to sell to the Celtics’ part-owners. They have another offer from Bucks’ former owner Marc Lasry, who would move the team to Hartford, Connecticut. The third option includes selling a minority stake in the organization.
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Sun ownership will present multiple options to the WNBA hoping to salvage the $325m franchise sale.
— Alexa Philippou (@alexaphilippou) August 19, 2025
Source says the tribe is frustrated at what it feels is the league presenting a one-path option: relocation of the team to a market of their choosing at a value of their choosing https://t.co/qtkbl9ljvh
The fourth and final option is to let the league buy the franchise, but at the price offered by the Celtics’ owners, which is $325 million.
The WNBA already has five expansion teams lined up and might be eyeing Boston as its next expansion team. However, letting an established team move to the city costs the league money. It will be interesting to watch which option the WNBA chooses and whether franchise owners will be happy with the decision.
Connecticut Sun’s On-Court Struggles Continue
While the owners are looking to win battles off the court, the team is also struggling on the court with a poor season. Following a glorious eight seasons with a minimum top-three finish, the Sun currently has the worst record in the league.
Although the team is already out of the playoff race, they are playing for pride and yet losing multiple close games, adding to their frustrations. The side is just four losses away from setting an unwanted record of most losses in the WNBA season (31), currently held by the 2011 Tulsa Shock side.
Despite Marina Marbrie’s heroic performances and Tina Charles’s record-breaking games, the team’s failure to win games puts pressure on the owners to make a quick sale.