Houston’s WNBA legacy is officially restored. The Comets will be back in 2027, after the Connecticut Suns finalised selling the team and relocating. The auspicious news landed on the Rockets, celebrating ‘Legends Night’. They announced the return of a dynasty in the WNBA, the same team that won the first four league titles. Kevin Durant couldn’t be happier for the city of Houston.
“I’m so happy to see that. The Comets are a historic franchise and a historic brand,” said KD.
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The process itself was long-drawn. The Connecticut Sun ownership received offers with the notion of relocating before. However, the WNBA denied requests to move the team to Boston or Hartford. Cathy Engelbert said as part of the expansion, Houston would be up next. Millions of fans and players who felt the 2008 dismantling would be the end jumped in glee.
Kevin Durant was among those people. The Slim Reaper appreciates basketball more than anything. And the Comets were special. Legends like Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson turned the Comets into a formidable force. Durant did feel for Connecticut fans. Losing a team is a nightmare for fans. But KD is confident that basketball in Connecticut is still in safe hands.
“I feel for people of Connecticut, though, because they definitely supported their team through and through. But they got UConn women’s basketball, they’ll be alright,” Durant added.
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The Connecticut Suns will get a farewell season. It will be one final run for their fans, who would have to turn to a successful UConn program following the upcoming WNBA season.
The women’s basketball team is currently undefeated and has qualified for the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. They entered the competition as the winners from the previous season and have managed to consistently qualify for the knockout rounds. College basketball is a glittering development in the city. The program has won 12 national championships and made it to the Final Four 24 times. UConn is one of the premier basketball teams, often associated with its consistent winning spirit.
The Fertitta family, who own the Houston Rockets, were keen on expanding into the WNBA. They previously tried their hands at franchises in Portland and Toronto. Eventually, the chance to revive the Comets emerged. The Fertitta family agreed on a record $300 million sale to achieve the dream.
Rockets score a big win to mark the Comets’ return
The vibes were pure as Houston celebrated the return of their historic WNBA franchise. Former legends were in the house for the monumental clash against the Knicks. And the Rockets understood the task at hand. They executed a phenomenal game plan and left no room for error.
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It was Kevin Durant who led the frontlines. He scored 27 points and added eight assists in the 94-111 win over the Knicks. The Rockets also fixed a lot of their repetitive problems in this game. Ball movement turned into a strength, as Houston registered 35 assists on 42 made field goal attempts.
They also turned a page on their three-point shooting. The Rockets made 15 threes, shooting 42.9% from beyond the arc. Against it, the Knicks were allowed to shoot just 42.2% from the field. The Rockets neutralised Jalen Brunson, who scored just 12 points in the loss. Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 22 points and eight rebounds.
For Houston, it’s been a surge ever since that demoralizing overtime loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. They’ve responded with three straight wins and improved synergy on the court. The team has registered 30 or more assists during this win streak, with turnovers limited to under 15.
It marks a clear shift for the franchise with two weeks remaining until the postseason. When playing with unselfishness, the Rockets are lethal on both ends of the court. They’re showing their peak at the right time. It’s an added bonus that the city gets to celebrate the rebirth of its WNBA franchise amidst this successful stretch.