The Connecticut Sun are an important part of the state’s sports landscape. They have carved out a loyal following since relocating from Orlando more than two decades ago, and women’s basketball has long enjoyed deep roots here thanks to UConn’s dynasty.
But as discussions intensify over how to keep the WNBA franchise in Connecticut, the question isn’t only whether the team belongs here. It’s how the state should — or shouldn’t — play a role in securing that future.
If the Sun have a viable future in Connecticut, which I think they can, it should be the private sector that leads the way rather than a significant investment by the state.
Hartford’s opportunity
The Mohegan Tribal Nation, which has owned the team since 2003, recently put the Sun up for sale. That move quickly drew interest from a Boston investment group that reportedly offered more than $300 million.
Closer to home, a Hartford-based group — led by Connecticut native and billionaire Marc Lasry, who previously owned the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks — has reportedly submitted a competing bid to move the team to the Capital City, where games would be played at the PeoplesBank Arena.
Connecticut should cheer on that effort.
The Sun would thrive in Hartford, where a franchise could tap into the loyal fan base cultivated by UConn’s success.
A downtown arena filled on summer nights would inject new energy into a central business district that still struggles with high office and retail vacancies in the wake of the pandemic.
The symbolism would matter too. For a city that has experienced its share of economic challenges, landing a professional team would be a welcome sign of vitality. Sports can’t solve every problem, but they can generate momentum, help downtown businesses and create a sense of civic pride.
The team playing exclusively at Mohegan Sun casino limits its broader economic impact. Relocating to the PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, a larger venue, would make the franchise more of a statewide asset and boost attendance.
Alternative path
Another option on the table is for Connecticut to acquire a stake in the Sun using money from state pension funds. Gov. Ned Lamont is pushing that idea, arguing the investment, which could total over $100 million, would both keep the team in the state and deliver returns for retirees.
It’s true that such an investment could achieve both ends. The Mohegan Tribal Nation bought the Sun for $10 million in 2003, and two decades later, bids are topping $300 million.
That appreciation is real, but the proposal raises concerns.
Pension funds exist solely to maximize returns for the teachers, state employees and retirees who rely on them — not to double as an economic development bank.
Republicans have raised alarms. Even public-sector unions share concerns, stressing that pension investments must be guided by fiduciary responsibility, not sentimentality.
Yes, there are rare precedents. Arizona’s Public Safety Personnel Retirement System owns a stake in a British soccer club.
Maryland’s and Oregon’s pension funds have invested in a private equity firm that buys into teams, while Canada’s Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan once held a large stake in Toronto’s Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment.
But these are exceptions, and in most cases the exposure came indirectly through funds — not by taking direct ownership of a franchise.
Lamont and his economic development team deserve credit for trying to keep the team in Connecticut.
But let’s be clear: the Sun, while a strong and well-supported team, are not the Hartford Whalers. Their departure, though disappointing, would not deliver the same statewide economic or cultural blow.
To argue otherwise overstates the stakes.
If the Sun are to stay in Connecticut, it should be because private investors see the opportunity. The state’s role should be complementary — perhaps a targeted tax incentive or grant to support development of a new training facility in downtown Hartford.
Beyond that, let private investors come to the table with their highest and best offer, and hope the WNBA and NBA see Connecticut as a viable professional women’s basketball market.
