Relocation could also be on the horizon within the WNBA. Pending league approval, the Connecticut Solar will transfer to Boston by 2027, in response to the Boston Globe. The potential transfer is a part of a looming acquisition by Boston Celtics minority governor Steve Pagliuca, who reached an settlement with the Mohegan Tribe to buy the Solar for a document $325 million — the best price ticket for a ladies’s sports activities franchise in U.S. historical past.
Pagliuca additionally intends to spend $100 million on a brand new apply facility in Boston. The Solar would play its residence video games at TD Backyard, the place they performed two video games over the past two years and bought out the world on each events. Based on Washburn, the Celtics have “no problem” with the Solar turning into co-tenants at TD Backyard, however the Solar could need to play early-season video games in 2027 in Windfall, Rhode Island, to keep away from scheduling conflicts.
WNBA enlargement: Seven lingering questions because the league provides groups in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia
Jack Maloney
The Boston Globe additionally stories that the Mohegan Tribe has been trying to promote the crew and that the $325 million provide sweetened the deal. The success of the Solar’s two video games in Boston additionally made the Tribe extra inclined to promote the crew to a Boston-based possession group. The transfer would ship the franchise simply over 100 miles away to the bordering state of Massachusetts.
“I have been pushing for years for Boston to get a WNBA crew; I feel it will be nice for Boston,” Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey mentioned to the Globe. “And that might be nice for the WNBA and we noticed that for a second 12 months in a row, a sellout crowd at TD Backyard. I have been at this for a few years. I additionally suppose it will be nice for the Connecticut Solar to maneuver to Boston and symbolize all of New England. We’re the hub of New England and the place that basketball was invented. I feel it makes a whole lot of sense.”
A few hurdles stay in these early days of the Solar’s potential transfer to Boston. The WNBA and its governors should first approve the sale. If the league prioritizes conserving the franchise in Connecticut and targets Boston as an enlargement web site as an alternative, that would throw a wrench within the plan. Washburn stories that the Mohegan Tribe will cooperate with the league if it forces a sale to an in-state purchaser.
“Relocation choices are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and never by particular person groups,” the WNBA mentioned in a press release to the Globe. “As a part of our most up-to-date enlargement course of, by which three new franchises have been awarded to Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia on June 30, 2025, 9 further cities additionally utilized for WNBA groups and stay beneath lively consideration.
“No teams from Boston utilized for a crew at the moment and people different cities stay into consideration based mostly on the in depth work they did as a part of the enlargement course of and presently have precedence over Boston. Celtics’ potential proprietor Invoice Chisholm has additionally reached out to the league workplace and requested that Boston obtain sturdy consideration for a WNBA franchise on the applicable time.”
If the sale and transfer undergo, Boston will likely be a part of a wave of recent WNBA cities. The league introduced Portland, Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia as enlargement cities in an upcoming wave of progress, which can unfold over the following 5 years.
