Houston Comets Return: WNBA Team Coming Back in 2027

Houston is getting its beloved women's basketball team back after 19 years, and the timing couldn't be better.

The Fertitta family, owners of the NBA's Houston Rockets, has reached an agreement to purchase the Connecticut Sun and relocate the WNBA franchise to Houston for the 2027 season. The team will be renamed the Houston Comets, honoring the city's iconic franchise that won four consecutive championships from 1997 to 2000.

The original Comets folded in 2008 due to poor ownership, leaving Houston without a professional women's sports team. Now the franchise returns at a perfect moment, as the WNBA is experiencing unprecedented popularity and growth.

The new Comets will play at the Toyota Center alongside the Rockets, giving them access to world-class facilities and one of the NBA's top organizations. The team will benefit from advanced analytics, professional training resources, and experienced management that the original franchise never had.

The deal comes as the WNBA enters a new era of financial stability. A recently finalized seven-year collective bargaining agreement raises the salary cap to $7 million per team, reflecting the league's growing success and commitment to player compensation.

The Ripple Effect

This move creates opportunities far beyond the basketball court. Young girls in Houston will now have professional female athletes to watch and emulate in their hometown. The team will generate jobs, boost local businesses, and give the city's sports scene the diversity it has long needed.

Tilman Fertitta has publicly stated that bringing the WNBA back to Houston is about more than profit. Despite being known for his sharp business acumen, he views this as the right thing to do for the city he calls his forever home.

His son Patrick Fertitta, alternate governor of the Rockets and a University of Houston regent, will help ensure the franchise has strong leadership for years to come. The family's long-term commitment to Houston makes them ideal stewards for rebuilding this storied franchise.

An official announcement is expected next week, cementing Houston's place as a complete sports city once again.