Connecticut Sun Farewell: Final Win Before Houston Move
Connecticut beat Toronto 95-81 ahead of its Houston relocation.
Basketball Daily
The Connecticut Sun ended their time in Connecticut with a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo on September 24, giving a sellout crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena one final home win before the franchise relocates to Houston in 2027. The result closed 24 seasons in Connecticut, according to the Associated Press game report via WRAL.
A winning farewell at Mohegan Sun Arena
With 8,911 fans in attendance, Connecticut led just 38-36 at halftime before taking control in the third quarter. The victory ended a six-game losing streak and gave the home crowd a successful finish to an otherwise difficult closing stretch.
Ashlon Jackson scored 18 points, Raegan Beers added 17 and Aaliyah Edwards finished with 16 after scoring 14 before halftime. Toronto's Kiki Rice led all scorers with 28 points.
The ceremony also reached beyond the current roster. Longtime season-ticket holders and former Sun star Nykesha Sales were recognized, connecting the final night to the supporters and players who helped establish the team.
Team president Jen Rizzotti addressed the crowd afterward. “You guys have been our family for 24 years,” she said, the game report noted.
How the Houston move became official
The relocation had been settled months before the farewell. In a WNBA announcement on May 13, the league confirmed that the WNBA and NBA boards of governors unanimously approved the sale from the Mohegan Tribe to Tilman J. Fertitta, with Houston becoming the franchise's home in 2027.
That announcement kept Connecticut as the team's base for the entire 2026 season. It also specified two regular-season games in Hartford and another in Boston, extending the final campaign across the New England market before the move.
The timing matters when assessing Thursday's significance. This was the completion of an approved transition announced during the spring, with an entire final season between the ownership decision and the last game.
What Connecticut built
The Sun's official early history traces the move from the Orlando Miracle to Connecticut for the 2003 season. The organization became the WNBA's first independent franchise and immediately developed into a consistent playoff team.
Connecticut reached the postseason in each of its first six seasons, including consecutive Finals appearances in 2004 and 2005 under Mike Thibault. Across his 10 seasons in charge, Thibault compiled a 206-134 record, with eight playoff appearances.
Those results explain why the farewell carries weight beyond the loss of a home schedule. Connecticut demonstrated that a team outside an NBA ownership structure could build sustained competitive success, giving the league an important example during its earlier years.
What carries over to Houston
The Sun's official relocation FAQ says Houston will receive the rights to player and coaching contracts when the franchise is handed over. That creates continuity in basketball operations, even as the team changes its home market.
In a separate Associated Press report carried by CT Mirror, Rizzotti said she would move with the organization as president of basketball operations. She also said 75-80% of the front-office staff would make the transition.
The next developments to watch are how Houston assembles its 2027 roster and turns that organizational continuity into an on-court identity. Contract rights provide a starting point; offseason personnel decisions will determine how much of Connecticut's final team takes the floor in its new home.