Ashlon Jackson’s trio of long-range three-pointers in the closing minutes sealed a 95-81 victory for the Connecticut Sun over the Toronto Tempo on Thursday night, capping the franchise’s final game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The win brought an emotional end to the team’s “Sunset Season” before they relocate to Houston.
The arena buzzed with bittersweet energy as fans savored the last moments with the Sun. Among them was 10-year-old Robert Douglas, a season ticket holder whose family grew attached to the team after his father took a job at the arena years ago. Robert, seated in Section 18 alongside his mother Stephanie, handed out commemorative tickets to fellow fans, trying to spread some joy despite the team’s impending move.
“My reaction was ‘I hate Texas,’” Robert said, referencing the franchise’s relocation. Stephanie laughed but acknowledged the sadness they both felt. “Even though they may not know you personally, it’s like they become part of your family too,” she said.
The Connecticut Sun, founded when the Mohegan Tribe purchased the Orlando Miracle and moved the team to Connecticut in 2003, never captured a WNBA title but made four Finals appearances, including runs in 2004, 2005, 2019, and 2022. The franchise built a loyal following, drawing in local college basketball fans and others across the region.
The decision to sell and relocate the team began in 2025. Tilman Fertitta acquired the Sun earlier this year for $300 million, with the intention of reviving the Houston Comets franchise. The Comets were the WNBA’s first dynasty, winning the league’s first four championships starting in 1997 before folding in 2008 due to ownership struggles.
Sun assistant coach Roneeka Hodges, a former Comets player, described the contrast between the Comets’ abrupt folding and the Sun’s planned move. “Houston disbanded after the season ended,” she said. “The Sun have known for the entire season this would be their last one in Connecticut.” Hodges called Thursday’s game a historic moment in women’s basketball.
General manager Morgan Tuck, who will remain with the team through the transition, said it was difficult not to think about the future. Rookie guard Charlisse Leger-Walker echoed that sentiment, saying the move to Houston was “such a big thing on the horizon,” but she emphasized the importance of finishing the season strong.
The day felt like a reunion for the Sun’s faithful. Fans reminisced about the years of ups and downs, while players and staff reflected on the franchise’s place in WNBA history. The team’s final home game was a fitting sendoff, with Jackson’s late shooting bursts igniting the crowd and ending the Sun’s Connecticut chapter on a high note.
After the final buzzer, the focus shifted to Houston, where the franchise will attempt to rekindle the legacy of the Comets and establish a new era in a city with a storied women’s basketball past.
According to Yahoo Sports.