College Sports
Connecticut lost its WNBA team, but one NBA star joked that having UConn around will soften the blow.
Connecticut has lost its WNBA franchise. The Sun are heading to Houston, where they’ll rebrand as the Houston Comets.
The Comets won four consecutive WNBA titles before folding in 2008. Eighteen years later, they’ll get another shot to make things work.
Rockets star Kevin Durant told reporters that he’s glad the Comets are making a comeback.
The 16-time NBA All-Star joked that Sun fans will be OK because the winningest program in women’s Division I college basketball history isn’t too far away.
“I’m so happy to see that,” Durant said. The Comets are an historic franchise, historic brand. They kickstarted the WNBA. I feel for the people of Connecticut, though, because they definitely supported their team through and through.”
“But, they’ve got UConn women’s basketball. They’ll be alright,” Durant said with a smile. “Glad [the Comets] are back, glad that we can honor the legends that played for the Comets earlier … can’t wait to see WNBA basketball in Houston.”
The move is a blow for local WNBA fans, as the Sun were the only franchise in New England. According to ESPN, former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had a $325 million deal in place to bring the Sun to Boston last summer but the deal was “basically blocked” by the league.
The league ended up taking Houston Rockets owner Tillman Fertitta’s bid instead. The $300 million bid was an WNBA record, but it was ultimately less than the reported offer from Pagliuca.
“Relocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams,” the league told ESPN.
Celtics owner Bill Chisholm said last fall that he believes there is an appetite for professional women’s basketball in Boston.
“I think Boston should have a team,” Chisholm said. “This is the best sports city in the country and this is the birthplace of basketball.”
However, New England will go without a WNBA team in the area in the near future.
The Sun are gone, but the Huskies are still alive. UConn is set to play in the NCAA Tournament women’s Final Four on Friday night.
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