Connecticut proposal would see state take minority Sun stake - ESPN

The state of Connecticut has submitted a proposal that would keep the Sun in the state, two months after the team's ownership group presented a deal to the WNBA that would have relocated the franchise to Boston.

The proposed investment, which would use funds affiliated with the state, would involve the Sun selling a minority stake in the franchise at a valuation higher than the WNBA's current $250 million offer to buy the team, which would allow the league to relocate the franchise to a market of its choice.

Games would be held at Mohegan Sun Arena, the team's current home site in Uncasville, and PeoplesBank Arena (formerly the XL Center) in Hartford, which also serves as an off-campus home for the UConn's men's and women's basketball programs.

PeoplesBank Arena is undergoing a $145 million renovation and accommodates about 16,000 fans, while Mohegan Sun Arena sits about 9,000. There is a desire from the state to hold more games in Hartford, but at the moment, the Sun are allocated only a handful of games to be held there each season.

The state would also build and finance a practice facility in Hartford, sources told ESPN, that would be leased by the team.

The WNBA and Sun ownership are expected to meet in the coming week to assess their options, a source said.

«I do believe that the best place for the Connecticut Sun is Connecticut because we have this very fierce fan base for women basketball,» Connecticut Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz told ESPN. «We love the Huskies. We love watching the Sun. So many of our favorite players from UConn will be part of the Sun or have been part of the Sun, and we've seen that the Connecticut Sun players have been great community leaders and role models.»

The proposal is still subject to