Houston Comets' 'Big Three' react to revival of iconic WNBA franchise

HOUSTON — In a scene that conjured ghosts of basketball dynasties past, the Houston Comets’ “Big Three” of Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson stood together on the court at Toyota Center on Tuesday night. Above them, banners commemorating the Comets’ four WNBA championships hung in the rafters, relics of an iconic franchise that will soon be revived. On Monday, March 30, the Houston Rockets announced that a group led by owner Tilman Fertitta is purchasing the Connecticut Sun from the Mohegan Tribe and relocating the team to Houston, to begin play in the 2027 WNBA season.

The deal is pending approval by the WNBA Board of Governors and expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. The Houston Comets were one of the original WNBA franchises and won the league’s first four championships from 1997-2000, but ceased operations after the 2008 season due to financial struggles. The city has been without a WNBA team ever since.

“I think the city has been hungry for this, you know? ” Swoopes told USA TODAY. “Every day when I’m just talking basketball I hear people ask the question, ‘When are the Comets coming back?

’ And now, I can say next year. So I’m just super thrilled. I’m excited for the city and I’m excited for the players that will be a part of the Comets but also the players who never played here will get a chance to come and see what the city of Houston has to offer.