The Boston Celtics’ Big Ownership Shake-Up — and the WNBA Drama That’s Stealing the Headlines
When the NBA’s board of governors signs off on a major franchise sale, it’s usually the kind of headline that dominates sports news for days. And that’s exactly what happened with the Boston Celtics — at least, at first. The league voted unanimously to approve the sale of the storied franchise to businessman Bill Chisholm, officially closing one chapter and opening another in Celtics history.
But here’s where it gets messy — the sale of the Celtics wasn’t the only transaction in play. Off in the WNBA, the Connecticut Sun are caught in a whirlwind of ownership drama, relocation rumors, and behind-the-scenes power plays. And somehow, more than one Celtics-connected figure is tangled in the middle of it.
A New Era for the Celtics — Clear-Cut and Unanimous
The Celtics deal was straightforward. The NBA governors didn’t blink. They didn’t haggle. Every hand in the room went up for Chisholm. That’s about as clean as it gets in pro sports.
For Boston fans, that’s reassuring — no ugly public negotiations, no ownership groups falling apart at the last second. Chisholm now has the keys to one of the NBA’s most iconic franchises. Whether he’ll tweak the Celtics’ front office, shift priorities in free agency, or make a splash in marketing, remains to be seen. But on paper, this was a seamless transfer of power.
And yet, while Celtics Nation celebrated, the WNBA had a storm brewing.
The Connecticut Sun Saga — Way More Complicated
The WNBA’s Connecticut Sun aren’t just dealing with an ownership change; they’re at a crossroads that could reshape their entire identity. Former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca made a play to buy the team and bring them to Boston — the same city his former NBA franchise calls home.
Sounds like a neat sports marriage, right? The WNBA didn’t think so.
Instead of quietly entertaining the idea, league officials pushed back loudly and publicly, making it crystal clear they weren’t on board. And now, the Sun’s future is a big question mark.
Here’s what’s on the table:
-
Option 1: Relocate to Hartford under a group led by former Milwaukee Bucks owner Mark Lasry.
-
Option 2: Move to Boston — either immediately if Pagliuca pulls it off, or later if Chisholm expands into the WNBA.
-
Option 3: Stay put in Connecticut under current ownership (which, given the public back-and-forth, feels like the least likely).
When Business Meets Loyalty
On the surface, the Celtics’ situation and the Sun’s battle look unrelated. But dig a little deeper, and you see the overlap. Boston’s NBA franchise just got a new owner. The city has NBA royalty-level interest in bringing a WNBA team to town. And yet, the WNBA leadership appears determined to control the timing and circumstances.
This is where sports business gets fascinating — and a little bit political. For the league, Boston is a big market. Adding or relocating a team there could mean more media attention, sponsorship deals, and fan engagement. But for Connecticut, losing the Sun would be a serious blow. The franchise has built a loyal local following, and Hartford’s sports fans aren’t exactly spoiled with top-tier pro teams.
So the WNBA is juggling two things:
-
Protecting a smaller market that’s invested in women’s basketball.
-
Weighing the revenue and exposure that comes with a major-market team in Boston.
The Players in the Game
-
Bill Chisholm – The man of the hour for the Celtics, but also a potential future WNBA expansion owner. If Boston gets a WNBA team under his watch, he could control two major basketball brands in the city.
-
Steve Pagliuca – Former Celtics minority owner who still has a stake in Boston basketball culture. He’s ready to put his money down for the Sun, but the WNBA isn’t giving him a smooth path.
-
Mark Lasry – Former Milwaukee Bucks owner with an eye on Hartford. He’s the “keep it in Connecticut” candidate, but Hartford would still mean a relocation from the Sun’s current setup.
The Fan Angle — Boston vs. Hartford vs. Connecticut
Sports fans in New England aren’t shy about voicing opinions. Boston diehards would love a WNBA team in their backyard, sharing the same city energy as the Celtics. They see it as a chance to strengthen basketball culture year-round.
Hartford supporters? They see the Sun as a perfect fit for their market — a chance to claim a professional sports team as their own and avoid the hour-plus trek to Connecticut’s current arena location.
And then there are the loyal Connecticut fans who’ve followed the Sun for years. They’ve packed the Mohegan Sun Arena, celebrated playoff runs, and supported the league long before the current surge in women’s basketball popularity. For them, losing the team would feel like a gut punch.
Why the WNBA Is Playing Hardball
The league’s resistance to Pagliuca’s move isn’t just about sentiment — it’s about control. Relocations can be tricky. They affect TV contracts, ticket revenue, and brand identity. If the WNBA wants Boston on its own terms, that could mean expansion instead of relocation.
An expansion team means new revenue without erasing an existing market. But it also means finding the right ownership group, securing an arena, and making sure the city’s sports ecosystem can support another team.
The Podcast Deep Dive
To help untangle this knot of sports politics and market strategy, the hosts of "Havlicek Stole the Pod" brought in SB Nation’s Noa Dalzell. They broke down the Celtics’ ownership change, the Sun’s complicated situation, and how these storylines might intersect down the road.
For hoops fans who like their sports talk with a mix of history, business insight, and a little speculation, it’s worth a listen.
🎧 Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" here:
What’s Next?
Right now, we’ve got:
-
A Celtics franchise entering a new ownership era under Bill Chisholm.
-
A WNBA franchise at a crossroads, with three possible futures and two major NBA-connected bidders.
The coming months will be telling. Will the Sun shine in Boston? Will Hartford get its moment in the basketball spotlight? Or will Connecticut fight to keep the team where it is?
One thing’s for sure — in New England, basketball business is just as competitive as the game itself. And with multiple big-name owners, two leagues, and a passionate fan base all in the mix, this story is far from over.
Login