WNBA's Connecticut Sun Hire Allen & Company to Explore Sale
The Sun could raise capital through an LP stake sale, but the expectation is a control sale and likely franchise relocation. There are multiple potential built-in buyers via the 10-plus groups who submitted bids during the current WNBA expansion process, which is also being run by Allen.
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Allen & Company declined to comment, while the Sun did not immediately respond to request for comment.
The move arrives as WNBA franchise values have exploded. The Golden State Warriors and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum were each awarded an expansion franchise for $50 million in 2023 and 2024. The latest round of W expansion is expected to fetch more than $200 million per franchise.
The last WNBA control sale was in 2021 when the Atlanta Dream were purchased for between $7 million and $10 million by a group led by real estate investor Larry Gottesdiener.
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As team values soared, the cost of running a WNBA franchise has also jumped. The Phoenix Mercury, Seattle Storm and Las Vegas Aces opened state-of-the-art training facilities. The Los Angeles Sparks, New York Liberty, Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever announced plans to build their own facilities. The recent expansion teams will all have their own practice facilities, and the expectation is that every WNBA team will need a dedicated practice facility within the next three years.
Speculation has swirled around whether Mohegan Sun wanted to keep up with the current WNBA arms race, with gaming, concerts and hospitality the primary businesses at the casino resort. The Sun play in the WNBA's smallest media market and host home games in 10,000-seat Mohegan Sun Arena.
An LP stake sale could help fund the construction of a new practice facility, a tactic the Storm used for their $64 million buildign. Connecticut's current practice set-up has drawn criticism from Sun players. The Mohegan tribe has priority at the venue, and community events have left Sun with half a court to practice in cases.
In 2003, the Native American tribe became the first non-NBA owner in WNBA history when the former Orlando Miracle relocated to the then-new $40 million Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The tribe paid $10 million as an expansion fee. Last year, the Sun were valued at $80 million, per Sportico's WNBA valuations, which was tied for ninth in the WNBA. Franchise values have jumped considerably since then.
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Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority recently faced a potential debt crunch, but last month, it completed a comprehensive refinancing of nearly all its restricted debt. It pushed back $1.5 billion in debt due in 2026 and 2027 to 2030 and 2031.
The Sun reached the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs last season, which marked the sixth straight season they made it at least that far, but their entire starting lineup exited via trade or free agency ahead of the 2025 season.
Last year, the WNBA had explosive growth for revenue, attendance, sponsorships and viewership. But it now faces a challenge after the players union decided to opt out of the current CBA back in October.
The WNBA regular season tips off Friday.
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With assistance from Scott Soshnick
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