The clock hasn鈥檛 run out on a deal to keep WNBA鈥檚 黑料吃瓜网 Sun in the state, Gov. Ned Lamont said Monday.
鈥淲hen it comes to the 黑料吃瓜网 Sun, we鈥檙e right in the fourth quarter. We still have some catching up to do. But it鈥檚 not over until it鈥檚 over 鈥� we鈥檙e fighting like heck,鈥� Lamont told reporters. 鈥満诹铣怨贤�檚 the home of women鈥檚 basketball 鈥� the Sun ought to be right here.鈥�
Lamont spoke following news of a potential $325 million deal to sell the franchise to Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca. The deal is not final and would still need approval from the WNBA.
If the move went through, the franchise wouldn鈥檛 play in its new home until the 2027 season. Pagliuca also would contribute $100 million for a new practice facility in Boston for the team, the Associated Press reported.
Meanwhile, a billionaire who鈥檚 a former co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks is also interested in buying the Sun, . Marc Lasry is leading a group that aims to keep the team in 黑料吃瓜网, playing at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford, .
The WNBA issued a statement over the weekend, saying that moving a team was at the discretion of the league and not individual franchises.
Kurt Badenhausen has been reporting on for .
鈥淭he important thing to think about here is that the Mohegan Sun cannot do this without the approval of the WNBA,鈥� he told 黑料吃瓜网. 鈥淩elocating a franchise is a completely different conversation. They like to see that big number, but they do not like to see franchises relocated.鈥�
Pagliuca鈥檚 group 鈥渨ill make the argument that the current fan base can still access games in Boston," Badenhausen said. "And with the idea that you can play games in a bigger arena, service a bigger market, that is accretive to the overall business.鈥�
Currently, the Sun practices either at the Mohegan Sun Arena, located at the Mohegan Sun casino, or a local community center.
In response to a question about whether there would be support for using state money to build a new practice facility for the team, Lamont said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to do what it takes to keep the Sun right here in 黑料吃瓜网.鈥�
That includes discussions with alternative buyers and local financial supporters, Lamont said.
鈥淚 know that we鈥檝e got a very competitive bid. I know we have lots of local corporate support to want to make this happen,鈥� he said.
The Sun are owned by the Mohegan Tribe, which runs the casino where the team has played since 2003. The Tribe bought the franchise for $10 million and relocated it from Orlando that year. The 黑料吃瓜网 franchise was the first in the league to turn a profit.
Despite the lack of facilities, the Sun have been one of the most successful teams in the league, making the postseason in 16 seasons, including a run of six straight semifinal appearances.
黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 John Henry Smith, Patrick Skahill, Abigail Brone and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
