{"id":582235,"date":"2026-04-04T18:34:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T18:34:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/582235\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T18:34:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T18:34:09","slug":"the-sun-are-off-to-houston-and-a-wnba-franchise-in-boston-isnt-up-for-discussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/582235\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sun are off to Houston, and a WNBA franchise in Boston isn\u2019t up for discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"

The principals in charge of orchestrating a logical WNBA and Boston betrothal didn\u2019t have much encouraging to say \u2014 or much at all \u2014 when pressed about a WNBA franchise gracing the Hub. Boston is decidedly on the back burner for the W. That\u2019s a shame and a missed opportunity for the league to plant its flag in the greatest sports city in America and the home of the most storied franchise in NBA history. The apparent apathy is baffling and frustrating. <\/p>\n

The WNBA declined to comment when asked about the future of the Boston market. The rub is that the league views the conversation as a false start. Boston has never formally or properly expressed interest in having a franchise to the league: chicken and the egg. The prior Celtics ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck, never indicated interest. <\/p>\n

Now, Boston must first woo the WNBA, preferably via current Celtics owner Bill Chisholm and his ownership group<\/a>, approved in August as the new owners in a $6.1 billion sale. Then, wait in line behind the serious suitor cities that have already expressed their affection and spelled out their plans. It\u2019s like a basketball version of \u201cThe Bachelorette\u201d TV series, and Boston isn\u2019t even invited to the rose ceremony.<\/p>\n

When contacted about bringing a WNBA team to Boston, the Celtics, through a team spokesman, referred back to Chisholm\u2019s comments at his introductory press conference in September.<\/p>\n

Chisholm said Boston should have a team. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely something we\u2019re going to look at,\u201d Chisholm said in September. \u201cI know the WNBA has a process. We\u2019re going to do what we can to expedite things, but there is a process there. But philosophically, it makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n

With Houston landing the Sun in 2027 and Philly lined up for 2030. Boston is the largest NBA market (No. 10 as measured by Nielsen Designated Market Area for viewership) without a WNBA franchise on the docket. We can be parochial. So, it\u2019s worth mentioning that the W is also severing ties with the rich history of women\u2019s basketball boosterism in the state of Connecticut, fueled by the UConn women\u2019s juggernaut. Not ideal.<\/p>\n

\"HaleyHaley Peters (right) and the Sun will take on Caitlin Clark’s Fever for one last season as New England’s WNBA entry.
\nHeather Diehl\/For The Boston Globe<\/p>\n

The league appreciates the state of Connecticut\u2019s role in growing the WNBA, but it\u2019s the appreciation of the league\u2019s value that is driving decisions these days. That\u2019s why Connecticut\u2019s efforts to keep the team in the Nutmeg State by financing a minority stake in the Sun were rebuffed. Former Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Marc Lasry also made a $325 million bid to move the Sun to Hartford that was rejected by the WNBA on the same grounds as Pagliuca\u2019s foray: that \u201crelocation decisions are made by the WNBA Board of Governors and not by individual teams.\u201d<\/p>\n

The league\u2019s preference is funneling franchises to NBA owners like Fertitta, who was among the failed expansion bidders. The WNBA isn\u2019t a charity. It\u2019s a valuable property that NBA owners feel they\u2019ve subsidized for three decades. Now, it\u2019s time for their return on investment. <\/p>\n

The WNBA is gaining in popularity, fueled by marketable stars such as Caitlin Clark, A\u2019ja Wilson, and Sabrina Ionescu. The league shattered its attendance record last year, drawing 3.15 million fans, well above the previous record of 2.36 million set in 2002 with 16 clubs, and a 34 percent jump from 2024.<\/p>\n

The league and the Women\u2019s National Basketball Players Association recently agreed on a landmark seven-year collective bargaining agreement<\/a> that will raise the salary cap from $1.5 million to $7 million this season, increase the maximum salary from $249,244 to $1.4 million, and raise the average salary from $120,000 to $583,000. Those numbers<\/a> increase notably throughout the deal. <\/p>\n

The WNBA acknowledges Boston is a great market. But there are a lot of logistics that must be painstakingly painted in a bid: arena availability, lease terms, devoted locker rooms for WNBA players, a practice facility, and local housing for players. It\u2019s not just about an enticing market. Of course, those details can be worked out, as Pags, willing to spend $100 million on a practice facility, proved.<\/p>\n

The Sun have sold out WNBA games at TD Garden the last two summers. Even Governor Maura Healey<\/a>, a former professional hooper in Austria, campaigned for Boston to get a team when the Garden hosted WNBA action last summer.<\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully, they get a team,\u201d said Indiana\u2019s Kelsey Mitchell after the Fever defeated the Sun in front of 19,156 at TD Garden last July<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019ve never been in Boston. Unbelievable city. It\u2019s nice. It\u2019s pretty. I don\u2019t see why they wouldn\u2019t in the future.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Sun\u2019s final season in New England will feature another game at TD Garden<\/a>. On Aug. 18, the Sun will host the Los Angeles Sparks.<\/p>\n

That contest could be the last we see here of the WNBA for a while unless the league adjusts its game plan to post up in Boston.<\/p>\n

Christopher L. Gasper is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at christopher.gasper@globe.com<\/a>. Follow him @cgasper<\/a> and on Instagram @cgaspersports<\/a>.<\/p>\n