Mohegan Tribe’s Sun Team Sold to Houston Rockets
The Mohegan Tribe, pioneers in Native American sports ownership, sold the Connecticut Sun to the Houston Rockets after 24 seasons of community pride and cultural integration. The sale, worth $300 million, will move the team away from Uncasville, leaving a legacy of tribal engagement and a bitterswe…
By Felo News Desk · Published
For Cass Meehan, the first time a six‑year‑old wore a red jersey and joined a roaring crowd at a Connecticut Sun game was a memory of family and basketball. Two decades later, the Mohegan Tribe’s 24‑year relationship with the Sun ends as the franchise is sold to the Houston Rockets and will relocate. The deal, valued at $300 million, is intended to strengthen the tribe’s finances and pay down debt, but it also signals the end of a unique partnership between a Native American tribe and a professional sports team.
The Mohegan Tribe’s Early Bet on the WNBA
In 2003 the Mohegan Tribe became the first Native American group to own a professional sports franchise when they purchased the Orlando Miracle. The team moved to Uncasville, Connecticut, and was renamed the Connecticut Sun. Over 24 seasons the Sun became a cultural touchstone for the tribe, offering a platform to showcase Mohegan language, traditions and values to a national audience.
The Sun’s success was notable: by 2010 the team had deep playoff runs, high attendance, and became the first WNBA franchise to turn a profit in a small market. The tribe’s ownership model inspired other tribes, such as the Wilton Rancheria’s stake in Sacramento Republic FC and the Seneca Nation’s purchase of the Rochester Knighthawks.
From Community Pride to a Business Decision
In May 2024 the Mohegan Tribe’s business arm finalized the sale to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. The move comes amid the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement, which requires costly upgrades to practice facilities and other infrastructure. The tribe cited financial strain and the need to protect its balance sheet as reasons for the sale.
Chairwoman Beth Regan, a lifelong Sun fan, described the final game on Mohegan land as “emotional.” She emphasized that the Sun had become part of the tribe’s family and community identity. Regan also highlighted the cultural rituals the team performed, such as smudging with sage during losing streaks and gifting sweetgrass braids to injured players.
Fans and Players Remember the Sun’s Legacy
Cass Meehan, who identifies with they/them pronouns, has been a dedicated Sun supporter since childhood. Their loyalty transcended wins and losses; they valued the team’s special connection to the community. Meehan’s memories include wearing hair buns like former Sun star Nykesha Sales, attending player autograph sessions, and watching the team practice in the community gym.
Players and fans alike celebrated the Sun’s “Moheganization.” WNBA guard Charlisse Leger‑Walker, who is Māori and Samoan, noted that Mohegan elders welcomed her during practices, offering blessings that resonated with her own cultural values. The team’s uniforms incorporated traditional Mohegan motifs such as the “trail of life” and the word “Keesusk,” meaning Sun.
Despite the sale, many fans are preparing for the last home game. Meehan is gathering 24 years of memorabilia—ticket stubs, the original 2003 jersey—to create a shadow box signed by the 2026 roster. Regan, while emotional, stresses that the tribe’s role in the WNBA’s growth should be remembered and celebrated.
What Happens Next?
The Houston Rockets will relocate the Sun to Texas, ending the tribe’s direct involvement with the team. The tribe plans to use the proceeds to strengthen its financial position and continue supporting community initiatives. Fans in Connecticut will lose a local professional sports team, but the legacy of the Mohegan Tribe’s pioneering ownership will remain in the WNBA’s history.
As the Sun’s final game approaches, the community will gather to honor a partnership that blended sport, culture, and economic development. The story of the Mohegan Tribe and the Connecticut Sun serves as a reminder of how sports can be a vehicle for cultural expression and community empowerment.
Key facts
- Mohegan Tribe owned the Connecticut Sun for 24 years, pioneering Native American sports ownership
- The team’s sale to Houston Rockets is valued at $300 million and will relocate the franchise
- The Sun integrated Mohegan culture into the WNBA through rituals, uniforms, and community events
- Fans and players cherish the Sun’s legacy and prepare for the final home game
- The tribe will use proceeds to strengthen finances and continue community support
Why it matters
The sale marks the end of the first Native American ownership of a professional sports franchise, underscoring the intersection of indigenous economic initiatives and major league sports. It also highlights the challenges small‑market teams face under new league agreements.
Frequently asked questions
Why did the Mohegan Tribe sell the Connecticut Sun?
The tribe cited financial strain and the need to pay down debt, as well as costly requirements from the WNBA’s new collective bargaining agreement.
What will happen to the Sun after the sale?
The Houston Rockets will relocate the franchise to Texas, ending its presence in Connecticut.
How did the Sun incorporate Mohegan culture?
Through rituals like sage smudging, sweetgrass braids, traditional motifs on uniforms, and community events.
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “The Mohegan Tribe made an early bet on a WNBA team. Now the Sun is setting”
