The Sun are now owned by Tilman Fertitta, who has owned the Rockets since 2017. So, in contrast to the Connecticut structure, the Comets are set to share an arena and infrastructure with an NBA team.<\/p>\n
That means two sets of basketball operations teams, all overseeing the same sport and in the same location. While that could lead to some synergies, Patrick Fertitta \u2014 Tilman\u2019s son, and a top executive<\/a> overseeing both franchises \u2014 is making it clear that the Comets will primarily operate as their own entity.<\/p>\n From the recent introductory press conference<\/a> at Toyota Center, Fertitta said this after being asked about potential areas of overlap between the Sun and Comets, as well as between the Comets and Rockets:<\/p>\n What I can tell you is that they are an operating team, currently. So, a lot of that team, you will see transition. They\u2019re busy during the season, as they have a job to do every day, now that their season has started. I would imagine that when the season comes to a conclusion, they will actually start physically making that transition.<\/p>\n Regarding the Rockets and what we have here, it would be foolish of us not to use some of the existing infrastructure and support. Not just in the transition, but once they\u2019re here, to help them do their job at the highest level possible.<\/p>\n But I think it\u2019s important to say that the Rockets are the Rockets, the Comets are the Comets. They\u2019ve got great leadership, they have a very good team, and the vast majority of the work is expected to be done by that leadership team.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a> Jennifer Rizzotti<\/a>, the Sun\u2019s team president, was once a Comets player in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Morgan Tuck<\/a>, a former Sun player and WNBA champion with the Seattle Storm, is the general manager.<\/p>\n It appears both will have the opportunity to transition to Houston, where the Rockets are quite busy with their own basketball operations department under the leadership of general manager Rafael Stone<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are wonderful people coming over from the Sun,\u201d Fertitta said. \u201cJen Rizzotti has been there for a long time and done a wonderful job. Morgan Tuck, who has been there for a few years, has a WNBA championship in her own right and has done a fantastic job on helping build that team and running the team on the basketball side. It starts with people and I couldn\u2019t be more excited, enthusiastic, and confident in the people who are going to help run the organization here and the people that are going to transition over.\u201d<\/p>\n Fertitta recently hired<\/a> longtime ESPN writer Kevin Pelton to a front office role with the Comets. In that capacity, he\u2019s collaborating with Rizzotti and Tuck during their final season in Connecticut.<\/p>\n \u201cKevin has been a great addition and a great resource to Morgan and Jen and their existing front office,\u201d Fertitta told Rockets Wire. \u201cIt\u2019s simply that he brings a different background that we were familiar with and has assimilated well into the organization. I would expect (Pelton) to continue to help them, and be a part of the Comets going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Final decisions on which staff members will transition from Connecticut to Houston are expected to be made once the WNBA season concludes later this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n More: Toyota Center to upgrade training facilities for WNBA\u2019s Houston Comets<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/naeQGayDnQY\/maxresdefault.jpg\")
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