WNBA fighting mystery company over Houston Comets trademark

The WNBA plans to revive the historic Houston Comets franchise in 2027, but the league is locked in a federal trademark dispute with a mysterious company that might threaten its ability to use the Comets name. The Houston Comets were one of the WNBA’s original eight franchises and won the league’s first four championships before folding in 2008. On March 30, a group led by billionaire Tilman Fertitta, who owns the NBA’s Houston Rockets, announced it had agreed to buy the Connecticut Sun and relocate the team to Houston .

The deal is pending final approval from the WNBA Board of Governors. In early 2025, close to the same time the Rockets’ ownership group formally submitted a bid for an expansion team, the WNBA applied to trademark the Houston Comets name but found it had been beaten to the punch by a business with no apparent ties to professional basketball. The other company is a Delaware limited liability company called TSTM Holdings , which submitted its trademark registration application in 2024.

The WNBA, which allowed its Houston Comets trademark to lapse in 2021, is opposing TSTM's application in the federal trademark office. The WNBA did not respond to requests for comment. Multiple trademark law experts told USA TODAY that while these types of disputes are not uncommon, it could develop into a major headache for the WNBA if TSTM Holdings is granted registration for the Comets name.

The WNBA is already having trouble reclaiming trademarks for the Cleveland Rockers and Detroit Shock, two of its other former franchises. The league granted expansion teams to Cleveland and Detroit scheduled to begin play in 2028 and 2029, respectively, but was denied trademark registration for the Detroit Shock and is facing opposition for the Cleveland Rockers registration. Both names are registered to the Women's Basketball League, a startup pro league that has yet to tip off.