Connecticut Sun win final home game 95-81 as franchise prepares to move

sportsSep 24, 2026401,250

The Connecticut Sun defeated the Toronto Tempo 95-81 in their final game at Mohegan Sun Arena, a farewell played before more than 8,000 fans as the franchise begins relocating to Houston next season. Ashlon Jackson led the finish with 18 points, hitting multiple three-pointers down the stretch and scoring the final points in franchise history. Raegan Beers scored 17 and former UConn standout Aaliyah Edwards added 16; Edwards had 14 by halftime as the Sun led 38-36 at the break. Toronto briefly tied the game in the second quarter behind contributions from Kiki Rice and Isabelle Harrington, but Connecticut opened a larger margin late in the third after Gianna Kneepkins forced a steal and scored, giving the Sun a 62-52 lead. Jackson’s three-pointer extended the lead to 15 and Connecticut held on to the finish for an 11-33 season record. Pregame Fan Appreciation Night and postgame chants of "Thank you" underscored the emotional farewell for the team and its supporters.

Rodger Sherman

@rodger.bsky.social

The Connecticut Sun's final game is tonight. Connecticut and its fans bought into the WNBA at its low point, turning a profit when the NBA's owners saw the league as a moneypit, only to lose their team now that everyone sees big bucks in women's sports. Some thoughts on the setting of the Sun:

Surprisingly, moving the team to Connecticut worked. In 2010, the Sun became the first WNBA team to turn a profit — during a global recession, and during the league’s nadir of popularity. The casino in the middle of nowhere became a fortress. The Sun has won 64.5 percent of its home games. It developed a real fanbase and made four WNBA Finals.

The Connecticut Sun is not the first WNBA team to die. (Enjoy this haunting image of the mascots for the Sacramento Monarchs, Utah Starzz, Detroit Shock, and yes, the Houston Comets, hanging out, smiling, not realizing that death will soon come for them.)

But it’s the first WNBA team to die for this reason: Not because nobody cared, not because it couldn’t make money, not because it couldn’t find fans or win games, not because the league is shrinking … but actually because the league is growing. The Sun helped the WNBA survive, but the period of mere survival is over. The league is moving on to bigger markets and bigger money and leaving Connecticut behind.

44417h ago

Rodger Sherman94

the Connecticut Sun's move is so bizarre that I find myself on the side of people that I never expected to be on. "I never thought I'd die fighting side by side with a Boston sports fan" etc

Clean Observer16

The injustices never stop. I am not supporting any candidate in 2028 who won’t restore these teams to their rightful place.

Danielle H12

I would love for Pablo Torre @pablo.show to do a deep dive into how the sale of the Connecticut Sun was forced to Houston instead of the Boston or Hartford options.

tweety fish10

they should be coming up to the garden arggggggghhhhh

FishingStepDad7

Absolute disaster class by the WNBA, and the fans of Connecticut pay the price

honestdenverman.bsky.social6

And there was whole thing about how the WNBA steered the franchise to Houston because they think they can get a lot more money for the rest of the owners from an expansion franchise in Boston.

Quoting this

Matthew Doyle78

As a native Connecticutian... Connecticutter... Connec... person from Connecticut, this hit home. Excellent newsletter from @rodger.bsky.social today.

Jeff Kassouf29

[CT resident annoyed by the WNBA's entire handling of the Sun sale] Yet another general truth here where you can literally swap WNBA for NWSL. The parallels run deep, and there are absolutely tradeoffs. 👇

Otto von Biz Markie9

This is pretty high up on the long list of shit I'll never forgive Cathy for

Amanda Hoey7

There were problems that the Sun ownership didn’t/couldn’t resolve: player facilities lagged well behind WNBA standards and Uncasville is hard to get to. But Hartford or especially Boston could absolutely support a team and bring in enough revenue for top-notch facilities. Cathy wouldn’t let us.

Clean Observer2

The rule of law requires many things but three of them are: The Whalers Sun All day breakfast at McDonalds.

Danielle H

@danielleceltics.bsky.social

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to say farewell to the Connecticut Sun #WNBA

11614h ago

Christopher Pike1

From the ashes of the Sun, a Coven will be born. Cursed are the Comets. #ConnecticutCoven

WNBA

@wnba.com

Thank you, Connecticut 🧡 Mohegan Sun was home to unforgettable moments and a fanbase that showed up every step of the way. A special era of WNBA basketball in Connecticut comes to a close. #WNBASeason30

11012h ago

Kyle32

It didn’t have to end this way!

Maeby21

adam silver wants w teams where he wants them. so the league defrauded the mohegan tribe out of 25 million dollars and leaves new england without a wnba team for the foreseeable future. the sun didn’t have to set.

Walt Clyde Phraser5

Really cute to act like this was totally out of the leagues hands. Not at all alienating. Great job, you turds.

Sober Tile Guy3

Screwed by a republican commissioner. Eat shit Engelbert.

Morgen2

Enjoy your dirty deal, wnba

Quoting this

your friendly neighborhood mel21

Fuck off, this didn’t have to happen

Along Came Poly-4-The-W16

@ wnba said #ctsun #sunsetSZN 😑

Naomi12

y'all forced them to abandon us

Basketball Fan, of the Sixers and LeBron James lmao!8

We’re all trying to figure out who did this!

meg6

the most unserious league what is this post—thank YOU wnba for doing the sun fandom so dirty 🧡🙄

Disgruntled Lesbian6

It’s the league’s fault Connecticut is losing their team!

Katie4

Fuck Cathy and Adam for this

Tommy Von3

An inept commish and some shady backroom dealing to rid new England of a WNBA team. Looking forward to the Pablo Torre story about this.

CJ Fogler

@cjzero.bsky.social

The Final Sunset - the final game in Connecticut Sun history tonight (on NBA TV)

Young fan in orange Aneesah Morrow Sun shirt holding the sign with yellow/orange/red hand painted sunset bands

10014h ago

Quoting this

Lalli4

This is a tragedy for the WNBA but also for Connecticut and, therefore, the world

Dan3

Alright now I’m really sad.

Alexa Philippou

@alexaphilippou.bsky.social

For one last time, the Connecticut Sun take the floor at Mohegan Sun Arena

7714h ago

Awful Announcing

@awfulannouncing.bsky.social

"It is officially sunset! 24 years we will never forget. Thank you, Connecticut Sun!" Brendan Glasheen with the final call in Connecticut Sun history. 🏀🎙️❤️ #WNBA

6111h ago

Quoting this

Babs the Autumnal Shark5

end of an era, truly. feel so bad for the connecticut fans, this is not at all their fault.

NBABeau4

Brendan did a wonderful, classy job in a tough spot

Meghan L. Hall

@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social

The Connecticut Sun ride off into the sun set with an 95-81 win. Couldn’t have wrote it any better.

5612h ago

Quoting this

terryhorstman6

Congrats, Sun fans! We've never deserved you, but I'm happy we have you. To another chapter of New England WNBA basketball sooner rather than later 🥂

Richard Cohen

@richardcohen.bsky.social

We shouldn't have to sit through this farewell broadcast. Maybe the league had outgrown Mohegan, but it hadn't outgrown the Connecticut-area market. Really unfortunate the league didn't let them move relatively nearby. Great that the Comets are coming back; such a shame that the Sun are going. #WNBA

5912h ago

Quoting this

Michael Coley3

Exactly. We could have easily had both. Give Houston an expansion team and let the Sun move to Boston. I will never understand why Cathy did it this way, and if I was a fan of the Sun, I would not forgive the league for letting this happen. Just a complete unforced error.

Boogie

@boogiefan87.bsky.social

Thank you for everything you’ve done for WBB, Connecticut Sun. It’s truly a shame your history is ending this way, and I really feel for your fans.

2514h ago

CrouchingPenguinHiddenSword

@sgtwaddles42.bsky.social

The Connecticut Sun should not be going to Houston and I'm still furious about it #wnba

1214h ago

Jenn Hatfield

@jennhatfield.bsky.social

Sydney Johnson said postgame that he doesn’t have a medical update yet on Austin, but he expects to have her for Game 1 of the playoffs. @theixsports.bsky.social #WNBA

1411h ago

Rebecca Lowboy

@beckstraordinary.bsky.social

I personally would like to thank the Connecticut Sun for introducing me to the following: Tina Charles #blessed #WNBA

1411h ago

Ben W

@mntwins020733.bsky.social

Dear Connecticut Sun when I FIRST started to follow the league back in 2004 when you drafted a PG out of Minnesota.. you became my first team I BECAME a fan of.. the teams of Whalen, KT, Sales, Taj, Wendy Palmer, Le'coe Willingham.. been to Mohegan Sun Arena twice.

719h ago

BlackJew 🏳️‍⚧️

@blackjew.bsky.social

At this point, I am rage watching the final Connecticut Sun game. Really sad about what the WNBA has done to rob the first nations of revenue and rob New England of a basketball team.

1212h ago

[insert something witty]

@shhimhiding.bsky.social

If Kobe got to take 50 of the 85 shots in his last game, Nneka better get at least that #wnba

811h ago

1 source

courant.comCT Sun win final game, defeating Toronto and giving fans a parting gift

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Connecticut Sun win final home game 95-81 as franchise prepares to move

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