Kevin Durant reacted to the Houston Comets' confirmed return after the Rockets defeated the Knicks 111-94 Tuesday, calling the franchise "a historic brand that kickstarted the WNBA."
The Houston Rockets beat the New York Knicks 111-94 Tuesday night for their third straight win, though the buzz inside Toyota Center had little to do with the final score.
The Rockets did so in front of three guests who made the evening feel like something more than a regular-season game. WNBA legends Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson were honored before tip-off in recognition of the confirmed return of the Houston Comets to the WNBA. The Comets will take over the Connecticut Sun franchise and relocate to Houston for the 2027 season.
Kevin Durant, who led the team with 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with six rebounds, eight assists, and two blocks, made no secret of how he felt about the news.
"I'm so happy to see that," Durant said. "The Comets are a historic franchise and a historic brand that kickstarted the WNBA. I'm glad they're back, glad we honored the legends that played for the Comets earlier before the game started. Can't wait to see WNBA basketball in Houston."
The deal was confirmed Monday when the Mohegan Tribe reached a $300 million agreement with Fertitta Entertainment to purchase the Sun, the most expensive sale in WNBA history and one that will require no relocation fee. Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta addressed the significance of bringing the Comets name back to a city that never forgot it.
"My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Houston Comets back to this incredible city," Fertitta said. "Houston has a proud championship history in the WNBA, with banners from the Comets' four historic championship seasons still hanging in the rafters of Toyota Center. We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball, and we look forward to working with the WNBA as we move through this process."
Houston was far from a foregone conclusion. The Sports Business Journal reported that Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had a tentative deal to buy the franchise, while former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry came in at $325 million, with plans to move the team to either Boston or Hartford. The league pushed back on both scenarios, making clear it wanted the franchise to either stay in Uncasville or land in a market that had already gone through the expansion process. Houston had. And neither of the competing bidders was willing to keep the team at Mohegan Sun Arena, which ultimately took them out of the running.
Houston was there when the WNBA tipped off in 1997, and the Comets wasted no time making their mark, winning the first four championships in league history before folding in 2008. Cooper, Swoopes, Thompson, and head coach Van Chancellor built something that doesn't come around often, reaching the playoffs nine times before ownership ran out of options.
Durant didn't ignore what the move means for the other side, either.
"I feel for the people of Connecticut because they definitely supported the team through and through," Durant said with a smile. "But they have UConn's women's basketball, they'll be all right."
The Sun will play one final season in Connecticut in 2026 before moving to Clutch City. Fans can visit houstoncomets.com to place a $99 per seat deposit for priority access to season tickets ahead of the 2027 debut.