The Connecticut Sun were the only major league professional sports team in Connecticut history.

Cultures · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from the relocation of the Orlando Miracle in 2003, the Connecticut Sun became a WNBA powerhouse and the first professional sports franchise owned by a Native American tribe. Despite reaching the playoffs in 15 of their 21 seasons, they remained the oldest franchise to never secure a championship title.

The franchise began as the Orlando Miracle in 1999, serving as a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic. When the NBA sold its WNBA teams in 2002, the Mohegan Tribe purchased the struggling organization and moved it to Uncasville, Connecticut. This move made the Mohegan Tribe the first Native American group to own a professional sports franchise. The team played at the Mohegan Sun Arena, a venue located within a casino complex that seated 9,323 spectators.

Under head coach Mike Thibault, the team quickly found success. In 2005, the Sun achieved a 26–8 regular-season record, the most successful performance by an Eastern Conference team in the history of the league at that time. Despite their consistent presence in the postseason, including WNBA Finals appearances in 2004, 2005, 2019, and 2022, the championship remained elusive. The team's roster featured notable talent, including Tina Charles, who earned the league's Most Valuable Player award in 2012.

The franchise's tenure in Connecticut ended amidst significant controversy regarding its ownership and future. Following a 2025 offseason where the team's starting lineup was dismantled, reports emerged regarding a potential sale and relocation. While state officials and politicians like Senator Richard Blumenthal fought to keep the team in Connecticut, citing potential antitrust concerns, the league favored relocation to markets that had previously sought expansion teams. On March 27, 2026, it was announced that the Fertitta family had agreed to purchase the team and move it to Houston, where it would be rebranded as the Houston Comets. The Sun played their final game on September 24, 2026.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The Sacramento Monarchs were a WNBA powerhouse that vanished at their peak
• The Charlotte Sting were a founding WNBA franchise that ultimately vanished after ten seasons.
• How the Minnesota Lynx built a WNBA dynasty from the frozen north
• The basketball franchise that survived relocation and ownership shifts
• From league basement to champions: the long ascent of the Washington Mystics
• The Conquistadors were not elite soldiers, but mostly artisans, farmers, and minor nobility.
• The Confederacy was a short-lived republic built on the preservation of enslaved labor.
• Why some American cities and counties are actually the same government
• The Conerly Trophy honors Mississippi's top college football player through a unique selection process
• From bulk wine to beer giant: the evolution of Constellation Brands
• How a small Massachusetts town became the cradle of American revolution and literary genius.
• From nuclear revival to AI power, how Constellation Energy reshapes the American grid

More in US culture · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics