Sun president explains free agency pitch to players before Houston move

Connecticut Sun president Jen Rizzotti acknowledged the franchise’s uncertain position in free agency as it prepares to relocate to Houston, while outlining how the organization is framing that transition to players.

Speaking on the podcast “ICYMI w/ Khristina Williams” Rizzotti explained the team’s situation ahead of its planned move to Houston in 2027,  emphasizing financial stability and future opportunity as key components of Connecticut’s pitch.

“I think with the new CBA there’s opportunity to give players the stability that they’re looking for, at least financially and have them be excited that they get to be a part of maybe one chapter that’s closing here but also an exciting new chapter that’s opening for them in Houston,” she said, quoted in a tweet shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Sun reporter Deyscha “Sway” Smith and retweeted by Williams.

The comment comes at a pivotal time for the franchise, which will play the 2026 season in Connecticut before relocating. The transition creates a unique challenge in free agency, as players must weigh short-term stability with a team entering its final season in one market against the prospect of being part of a new era in another.

The Sun have already begun addressing that shift publicly, announcing plans for a “Sunset Season” to celebrate the organization’s 23-year run in Connecticut. The initiative is expected to honor former players, highlight key moments in franchise history and engage longtime fans before the move. The “Sunset Season” will include designing a new commemorative sunset logo, an updated sunset-themed home court, a homecoming game to reunite some of the team’s former players, special gifts for Day 1 season ticket holders and an investment in a community court revitalization project.

Rizzotti described the upcoming season as an opportunity to reflect on the team’s legacy while maintaining a forward-looking approach. The franchise has been owned by the Mohegan Tribe since relocating from Orlando in 2003 and has been a consistent presence in the WNBA, including multiple Finals appearances and a sustained stretch of playoff success in recent years.

The relocation to Houston, approved by the league, will mark the end of that era and the beginning of a new one under ownership tied to the NBA’s Houston Rockets. The team is expected to reestablish itself in a larger market as part of the league’s broader growth strategy.

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