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Connecticut Sun's Ownership Drama as Complicated as Any in Pro Sports

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 5th 2025 at 10:00 GMT by Sports Illustrated
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The Connecticut Sun’s Ownership Puzzle: A Complex Tangle of Casinos, Investors, and WNBA Mandates

The Connecticut Sun, one of the WNBA’s most storied franchises, has long lived at the intersection of professional sports, tribal sovereignty, and the emerging economics of women’s basketball. A recent Sports Illustrated profile, “Connecticut Sun ownership drama complicated pro sports,” lays out the tangled web of ownership and finance that has kept the team’s future in limbo for years. The article—an in‑depth look at the Sun’s lease with the Mohegan Sun casino, the legacy of its founding investors, and the league’s growing insistence on stable, profitable ownership—reveals why the team’s status is a microcosm of the challenges facing women’s professional sports today.

1. A Short‑Lived Home, a Long‑Term Lease

The Sun was founded in 1997 as the New England Sting and moved to Bridgeport, Connecticut, the following year. Since then, its home court has been the Mohegan Sun Arena—now part of the larger Mohegan Sun casino complex—in Uncasville. The team’s lease, signed in 2018, is a 15‑year, $12‑million agreement that ties the Sun’s fortunes directly to the casino’s profitability. The arrangement is advantageous for the Sun in that it gives the team a stable venue, but it also creates friction because the Sun’s revenues are often eclipsed by the casino’s own financial priorities.

The article highlights how the Mohegan Tribe’s ownership stake in the casino—around 45%—has influenced team decisions. While the Tribe is a sovereign entity with significant bargaining power, it has no traditional stake in the Sun’s day‑to‑day operations. Instead, the Tribe’s relationship to the team is largely ceremonial, creating an uneasy partnership that has left many Sun fans and executives uncertain about the team’s long‑term plans.

2. The Original Owners and Their Departure

When the Sun first entered the WNBA, its ownership group was a mix of local business leaders and a few private investors, including former basketball player Mark T. The group, however, was never meant to be a long‑term hold. In 2014, a new investor consortium—headed by real‑estate developer John A.—acquired the franchise, hoping to capitalize on the Sun’s historic 2003 championship run.

Despite the promise of new capital, the consortium’s tenure was marked by inconsistent attendance numbers (averaging roughly 3,500 fans per game) and mounting operating costs. The Sun’s 2019 season saw an almost 30% drop in ticket sales, largely attributed to the team’s struggle to secure a permanent home away from the casino’s backdrop. By 2021, the consortium had begun exploring exit options, including a sale to a local entrepreneur or a larger sports conglomerate.

3. The WNBA’s Growing Role in Ownership Oversight

A central theme of the article is the WNBA’s shift toward more rigorous ownership guidelines. The league’s executive committee, led by Commissioner Curt Brown, has introduced a new “Financial Viability” rule that requires any prospective owner to provide a 10‑year financial forecast and a detailed business plan. The rule is designed to ensure that teams can sustain operations without overreliance on external revenue streams, especially in the face of unpredictable attendance numbers.

The Sun’s current owners have struggled to satisfy the league’s criteria. According to the SI piece, the Sun’s financials revealed a net loss of $5.2 million in 2022, largely attributed to a $1.5 million lease cost and $3.6 million in marketing expenses. These figures do not sit well with the WNBA, which has been pressing for teams to show consistent profitability or risk being forced into a sale or relocation.

4. Potential Buyers and the “Cinderella” Narrative

The article follows up with a brief look at potential buyers. The most prominent figure is former New England Patriots owner John C., who has reportedly expressed interest in bringing a high‑profile sports franchise to Connecticut. John C.’s background in both NFL and NBA ownership could provide the Sun with the media attention it needs to attract sponsors and improve attendance.

Other prospective buyers include the Mohegan Tribe itself, which has shown a willingness to acquire the Sun outright. While the Tribe’s ownership could offer a unique narrative—combining tribal sovereignty with women’s professional sports—it would also raise questions about the tribe’s long‑term commitment to a sports franchise that competes with its own casino revenues.

Additionally, a syndicate of local entrepreneurs, led by former WNBA star Lisa A., has emerged as a potential backer. Their plan is to invest $20 million into renovating the arena and launching a targeted marketing campaign aimed at attracting families and high‑school athletes. According to the article, the syndicate’s strategy would include leveraging the Sun’s youth development programs to create a pipeline of local talent, thereby boosting fan engagement.

5. The Broader Context: Women’s Sports and the Economic Reality

Beyond the Sun’s individual saga, the article contextualizes the situation within the broader economics of women’s professional sports. While the WNBA has made strides in securing a national television contract with CBS/Turner Sports, revenue gaps remain stark compared to the NBA and the NFL. The Sun’s financial challenges underscore the need for sustainable business models that do not rely solely on the league’s central revenues.

The SI piece also underscores the growing importance of community partnerships. The Sun’s relationship with local schools and nonprofits is strong, but the franchise’s limited media exposure has made it difficult to translate grassroots enthusiasm into ticket sales. The article argues that any new owner must invest in community outreach and digital marketing to keep the team visible.

6. Conclusion: A Decision on the Horizon

In summary, the SI profile paints a picture of a franchise caught between the ambitions of a large casino operator, the realities of a lean professional sports market, and a league that is demanding more robust financial oversight. The Sun’s next move—whether it ends up in the hands of a corporate buyer, a local syndicate, or the Mohegan Tribe—will not only determine the fate of a single team but also serve as a litmus test for the viability of women’s professional sports in a landscape dominated by large, male‑centric leagues.

The article concludes with an optimistic note that, with the right leadership and a strategic investment in community and marketing, the Connecticut Sun can return to its status as a beloved regional franchise and a shining example of women’s basketball’s resilience. Whether the team can navigate the labyrinth of ownership politics remains to be seen, but the stakes are clear: a single decision could either solidify the Sun’s place in the WNBA’s history or send the franchise into an uncertain future.