‘I will not be moving on’: sale of WNBA’s Connecticut Sun leaves Native fans facing cultural loss
Summary
The WNBA team Connecticut Sun was sold to a new ownership group in Houston, ending its 24-year run in Connecticut. The team was the first Native American-owned professional sports franchise, owned by the Mohegan Tribe, and its sale has upset Native fans who see it as a loss of cultural significance and sovereignty.Key Facts
- The Connecticut Sun played its final game recently and is leaving Connecticut after 24 seasons.
- The team was sold to a new ownership group based in Houston.
- The sale is controversial, and Connecticut state officials are considering legal action.
- The Sun was the first independently owned WNBA team and was owned by the Mohegan Tribe, a Native American tribe.
- The Mohegan Tribe gained federal recognition and sovereign status in the 1990s after land was returned to them.
- The Mohegan Sun Casino and arena are located on the tribe’s reservation, which helped the tribe achieve economic self-sufficiency.
- The tribe bought the WNBA team in 2003 when the league was restructuring and many teams were folding or relocating.
- Native fans see the team as a symbol of Native sovereignty and cultural pride, making the sale feel like a cultural loss.
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