Sun President Jennifer Rizzotti to Follow Franchise to Houston, Ending a Deeply Connecticut Story

The Connecticut Sun’s two-decade run in the state is nearing its close, and the executive who has steered the franchise through its final stretch is preparing to make the move with it. Team president Jennifer Rizzotti confirmed this week that she will relocate to Houston alongside the club, retaining her role as president of basketball operations as the franchise departs Uncasville.

According to comments first reported by NBC Connecticut, Rizzotti plans to continue leading the Sun’s basketball operations in their new home. General manager Morgan Tuck is also expected to remain with the organization, meaning the franchise’s current leadership duo would stay intact through the transition — a measure of continuity that is rare when a team changes cities.

Leadership Continuity Amid Relocation

Rizzotti, who has held the president’s role since 2021, described the relocation as a continuation of a rebuilding project rather than an abandonment of it. She noted that she and Tuck began reshaping the roster several years ago and have chosen to see that effort through in Houston together.

The franchise will play its final home game at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday before wrapping up its Connecticut tenure. League and NBA approval of the team’s sale to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta cleared the path for the relocation, with the club slated to take the court in Houston beginning with the 2027 season. The Sun will finish its Connecticut run after the 2026 campaign.

Rizzotti has emphasized that the move does not diminish what the organization built during its years in Connecticut.

A Full-Circle Move for Rizzotti

For Rizzotti, Houston carries personal resonance. Though she is closely identified with Connecticut — a New Fairfield native who starred at UConn, captaining the undefeated 1995 squad that captured the school’s first national championship — her playing career included time in the city where the Sun will now play.

Her arc from player to coach to executive has been rooted in the state for much of her life, which makes her departure with the franchise a notable moment for Connecticut basketball. The organization recently hosted celebratory moments at Mohegan Sun Arena, including jersey-retirement honors, as the community prepares for the team’s exit.

The relocation marks one of the more significant franchise moves in recent WNBA history, transferring a team with deep regional roots into a Texas market already home to an NBA franchise under the same ownership group. Comcast (CMCSA), whose media portfolio includes coverage of professional basketball, is among the industry players whose regional sports and broadcast networks have been affected by broader shifts in how fans access games.

What to watch

• The Sun’s final home game at Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday, and any farewell announcements from the organization.
• Formal confirmation of Morgan Tuck’s role in Houston.
• Houston-based details ahead of the 2027 debut, including arena arrangements, branding, and ticketing under Tilman Fertitta’s ownership.
• Any WNBA announcements regarding Connecticut’s replacement in the league schedule or future expansion plans.

Source: original release