The WNBA is officially bringing back a dynasty. The Connecticut Sun are packing up for Houston, and when they arrive for the 2027 season, they'll be wearing a legendary name: the Houston Comets.

On Wednesday, the WNBA and NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Sun to a group led by Houston Rockets owner Tilman J. Fertitta. The price tag? A record-breaking $300 million. It's a homecoming for a franchise that once defined women's basketball.

Let's rewind to the late '90s. The original Comets, powered by icons like Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson, didn't just win the WNBA's first championship—they won four in a row. That "Drive for Five" in 2001 was the stuff of legend. Gretchen Sheirr, now the Rockets' president of business operations, remembers it well. She was a ticket sales rep back then, selling seats for a team chasing history. The Comets never got that fifth ring before the franchise folded in 2008.

Now, Sheirr is part of the team bringing it all back. "To be able to sit on this stage and represent the Fertitta family and play a small part in bringing this franchise back is fantastic," she said at Thursday's announcement at Toyota Center. "I look forward to the next 'Drive for Five,' hopefully coming up soon."

The road to Houston wasn't a straight line. The Mohegan Tribe, which owned the Sun, had been exploring a sale since early 2025. They nearly sold to Boston Celtics minority owner Stephen Pagliuca and then to former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry. But the WNBA blocked both deals. When Houston put in a bid for an expansion team during the last round, they were passed over for Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said Houston was "up next"—and she meant it.

This move stings for Connecticut fans, who are watching their team head south. But for Houston, it's a chance to reclaim a piece of basketball history. Patrick Fertitta, Tilman's son and the Rockets' vice chairman, made it clear: "For us, our focus was on bringing the Comets to Houston whether it was through expansion or through relocation."

Whether you're a fan of the Sun or the Comets, one thing is certain: the WNBA just got a whole lot more interesting. And if you're looking to rep the new-look Comets when they hit the court in 2027, you know where to find the gear.