The final buzzer has sounded on the Connecticut Sun’s run at Mohegan Sun Arena.
On Thursday, Sept. 24, the Sun played their final home game in Connecticut, defeating the Toronto Tempo 95-81. The result closed the franchise’s 24-season run in Uncasville, where the team had played since relocating from Orlando before the 2003 season.
The victory provided a fitting final chapter, but the night was about more than the score. It marked the end of the Sun’s Connecticut era.
A WNBA Era Comes to an End
The franchise began as the Orlando Miracle before relocating to Connecticut for the 2003 season. The Mohegan Tribe purchased the team, which became the first WNBA franchise without an NBA ownership connection. The Sun established Mohegan Sun Arena as its home.
During its Connecticut tenure, the Sun reached the WNBA Finals four times. Mohegan Sun Arena also hosted four WNBA All-Star Games—in 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2015—and the WNBA Draft from 2014 through 2016.
The team’s reported 461-375 record reflects its regular-season performance in Connecticut; it does not include playoff games.
The Final Night at Mohegan Sun
The Sun entered the finale at 10-33, but the standings were secondary. The game was designated as Fan Appreciation Night and included commemorative tickets, special recognitions and a postgame celebration honoring the team’s supporters.
Connecticut closed its home schedule with a 95-81 victory over Toronto.
After the final buzzer, players and fans remained in the arena as team president Jennifer Rizzotti addressed the crowd and the organization recognized its supporters.
“It was bittersweet,” general manager Morgan Tuck said before the game, describing the emotions surrounding the franchise’s departure.
A Basketball Home Built in Connecticut
The Sun’s connection to Connecticut extended beyond the arena. The state’s established women’s basketball culture, including the prominence of UConn, helped provide a strong regional setting for the franchise.
Several former UConn players later played for the Sun, including Rebecca Lobo, Morgan Tuck, Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, Alyssa Thomas and Nykesha Sales.
For many fans, Mohegan Sun Arena became a place where Connecticut’s basketball tradition and professional women’s basketball intersected.
Why Is the Connecticut Sun Leaving?
The relocation followed the Mohegan Tribe’s sale of the franchise to Houston Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta. The WNBA and NBA Board of Governors approved the sale and relocation in May 2026.
The Sun completed the 2026 season in Connecticut before moving to Houston for the 2027 season.
The franchise is expected to revive the Houston Comets name. The original Comets won the WNBA’s first four championships, from 1997 through 2000, giving the Houston franchise a direct connection to the league’s early history.
A Legacy That Moves Forward
The end of the Connecticut era does not erase what the Sun built in Uncasville.
The franchise operated under independent ownership, developed a long-standing relationship with its community and produced numerous prominent players and memorable teams. During the 2026 “sunset season,” former players and franchise legends returned for events celebrating the team’s history.
The team is moving to Houston, but its Connecticut history remains part of the franchise’s identity.
Thursday’s game marked the end of the Sun’s home schedule in Connecticut.
What We Know
- 🏀 Final Connecticut home game: Sept. 24, 2026
- 🏟️ Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
- 🆚 Final opponent: Toronto Tempo
- 📊 Final score: Connecticut Sun 95, Toronto Tempo 81
- 🧡 Connecticut era: 2003-2026
- 🏆 WNBA Finals appearances in Connecticut: 4
- 📍 Next home: Houston
- 📅 Houston debut: 2027
- ⭐ Expected future identity: Houston Comets
Thank You, Connecticut
The Connecticut Sun’s home era is over.
For 24 seasons, Mohegan Sun Arena was more than a basketball venue for the franchise and its supporters.
It was home.
As the Sun begin their next chapter in Houston, they leave behind a fanbase that helped establish Connecticut as one of the WNBA’s enduring basketball communities.
