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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 ultimate approval, the value tag could be the most costly 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 emblem on a basketball at a recreation between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Solar at Local weather Pledge Area 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 contains guarantees to take a position $100 million in a brand new coaching website in Boston for the staff. The Solar have some familiarity with Boston, having performed one regular-season recreation at the Celtics’ house enviornment every of the previous two years.
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Experiences of the report sale surfaced shortly after the WNBA introduced main growth 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 emblem 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 can take the court docket in 2028, whereas Detroit’s growth membership will start competing in 2029. Philadelphia’s staff will begin enjoying the next yr. Every of these cities agreed to a then-record $250 million growth charge to safe the brand new groups.
The Solar play on the Mohegan Solar Area. The Mohegan Tribe, the Solar’s present possession group, additionally controls the on line casino the place the staff has held house 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 emblem on the court docket earlier than a recreation between the Connecticut Solar and the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Extremely Area June 25, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs / Getty Photographs)
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Regardless of this yr’s 5-21 report, the Solar have traditionally been one among this league’s extra profitable franchises on and off the court docket. The staff is credited with 16 postseason appearances and have become the primary WNBA franchise to turn out to be 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 acquired 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.
