The Connecticut Sun will leave New England and relocate to Houston after the current season, said a source familiar with the negotiations between the Mohegan Tribe of Uncasville, Conn., and Texas billionaire Tilman Fertitta on Saturday. <\/p>\n
After months of negotiations, the sides agreed to a $300 million sale that is expected to be announced Monday.<\/p>\n
The tribe initially wanted to sell the Sun last summer for $325 million to Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca, who struck a deal with the intention of a move to Boston<\/a>, with Pagliuca and investors intending to spend another $100 million to build a training facility for the team. That agreement was reached without the approval of the WNBA. <\/p>\n When word leaked, the league quickly announced there would be no deal and that the league is in charge of relocating teams.<\/p>\n The WNBA wants an expansion team in Boston but at a time of its choosing, which is believed to be by 2033.<\/p>\n The Fertitta-led Houston group offered to buy the Sun last year for $250 million but the Mohegan tribe declined to sell the team at a $75 million discount for what was offered by the Pagliuca group.<\/p>\n The Tribe bought the Orlando Miracle franchise in 2002, with the team playing at the Mohegan Sun Arena since 2003.<\/p>\n Houston\u2019s original WNBA team played in the city from 1997 to 2008. ESPN reported that the relocated team will go by the Houston club\u2019s original name, the Comets.<\/p>\n Last week, the league and players\u2019 association reached agreement on a landmark seven-year collective bargaining contract.<\/a><\/p>\n The WNBA season begins May 8. The last regular-season Sun game scheduled for Mohegan Sun Arena is Sept. 24, and on Aug. 18 the team will play at TD Garden<\/a>.<\/p>\n