The WNBA is currently set to have 15 teams in 2027. The approved move from Connecticut to Houston replaces one market with another; it does not add a 16th franchise. The next expansion team is scheduled to begin play in Cleveland in 2028.
Last updated August 2, 2026. The relocation, Houston Comets name, Toyota Center home and a 50-game regular season are official. Houston's conference assignment, any alternate venues and the detailed 2027 schedule remain pending. This guide separates those items from confirmed facts.
Until the 2027 schedule is released, the site's current WNBA schedule remains the place for live dates, times, scores and TV information.
What the WNBA officially approved for Houston in 2027
On May 13, 2026, the WNBA announced that the WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors had unanimously approved the sale of the Connecticut Sun from the Mohegan Tribe to Tilman J. Fertitta. The same release approved the franchise's move to Houston beginning with the 2027 season.
The move does not interrupt the 2026 season. Mohegan Sun Arena remains the Sun's primary home for 2026, while the club also has two regular-season games in Hartford and one in Boston. Fans following the farewell season can use the Connecticut Sun's 2026 schedule for current venues, results and broadcast information.
The approval closes the most important procedural question: this is no longer only a proposed sale or rumored move. It also ends the Connecticut chapter after the season. The franchise had operated as the Sun since moving from Orlando to Connecticut for 2003. The official Houston Comets announcement says the club will play at Toyota Center and that the franchise's records and history will carry forward.
Associated Press reporting put the sale agreement at $300 million. That figure provides transaction context, but the WNBA's short approval announcement did not publish a purchase price. More importantly for fans, the league release clearly confirmed the new owner, final Connecticut season and 2027 destination.
Full WNBA team list for 2027
The following list reflects the teams currently confirmed for 2027. Fourteen clubs are unchanged from 2026, while the Houston Comets take Connecticut's place. Conference labels for those unchanged teams follow the WNBA's current directory; Houston is left unassigned until the league announces its 2027 alignment.
| 2027 team or market | Conference status | Change from 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Dream | Eastern | No announced change |
| Chicago Sky | Eastern | No announced change |
| Dallas Wings | Western | No announced change |
| Golden State Valkyries | Western | No announced change |
| Houston Comets | To be announced | Relocates from Connecticut |
| Indiana Fever | Eastern | No announced change |
| Las Vegas Aces | Western | No announced change |
| Los Angeles Sparks | Western | No announced change |
| Minnesota Lynx | Western | No announced change |
| New York Liberty | Eastern | No announced change |
| Phoenix Mercury | Western | No announced change |
| Portland Fire | Western | No announced change |
| Seattle Storm | Western | No announced change |
| Toronto Tempo | Eastern | No announced change |
| Washington Mystics | Eastern | No announced change |
The table deliberately does not place Houston in the Western Conference simply because it is farther west than Connecticut. Nor does it automatically preserve Connecticut's Eastern designation. Conference alignment affects scheduling and Commissioner's Cup play, so the WNBA's eventual announcement—not geography alone—will decide the correct label.
Why the Houston Comets name matters
Houston Comets is the official 2027 team name. The WNBA's approval-page graphic identifies the Comets, and the team's post-approval announcement confirms the name, Toyota Center home and continuation of franchise records and history.
The restored identity has substantial history behind it. The original Houston Comets were one of the league's first teams and won the first four WNBA championships, from 1997 through 2000, led by stars including Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson.
The name's return does not make Houston an additional expansion club. It is the identity of the Connecticut franchise after relocation, which is why the league stays at 15 teams in 2027. The official Houston announcement also says the franchise's records and history will carry forward into the new chapter.
What changes on the court in 2027?
The league has confirmed one major schedule change: each team will play 50 regular-season games in 2027. The official 50-game announcement makes that six more than the 44-game schedule used in 2026. The increase applies across the league, not only to the relocated Houston franchise.
The WNBA's June 17 announcement did not yet provide the season footprint or key dates. It also did not spell out the opponent rotation, conference-game formula, Commissioner's Cup structure or home-and-road split. A 50-game total therefore should not be reverse-engineered into an unofficial schedule.
Wait for the official release before booking travel or treating a rumored date as final. Once the league publishes 2027 games, the site's WNBA calendar tools can turn loaded schedule data into a more useful planning resource.
What is still to be announced?
The relocation destination and year are settled, but several fan-facing details still need official publication:
- Conference assignment: Houston's 2027 conference was not specified.
- Alternate venues: Toyota Center is the announced home, but any special games elsewhere remain unknown.
- Schedule dates and opponent formula: 50 games are confirmed, while the footprint and key dates are pending.
- Roster and franchise transition details: the league has not published every operational step for moving the team.
- Website and schedule slug: a Houston team page should not be guessed before the official identity is launched.
A missing detail is not evidence for a rumored answer. The safest check is a newer WNBA or team announcement, followed by the live schedule after it has been loaded.
What happens after 2027?
Houston's arrival is a relocation, but league expansion resumes the following year. The WNBA and NBA Boards of Governors formally approved Cleveland for 2028, Detroit for 2029 and Philadelphia for 2030.
- 2027: 15 teams, with Houston replacing Connecticut.
- 2028: 16 teams when Cleveland is scheduled to begin play.
- 2029: 17 teams when Detroit is scheduled to begin play.
- 2030: 18 teams when Philadelphia is scheduled to begin play.
That timetable is useful for answering the 2027 count, but each expansion market will eventually need its own guide as names, arenas, conferences and inaugural schedules become official.
Frequently asked questions
How many WNBA teams will there be in 2027?
There are currently 15 teams confirmed for 2027. Houston replaces Connecticut through relocation, and the next additional franchise is scheduled for Cleveland in 2028.
Is Houston an expansion team or a relocated team?
Houston is the new home of the relocated Connecticut Sun franchise. It is not a separate 16th expansion team.
Will the Connecticut Sun play in Connecticut in 2026?
Yes. The Sun play the 2026 season in Connecticut, primarily at Mohegan Sun Arena, with two listed home games in Hartford and one in Boston. The move begins with the 2027 season.
Is Houston officially called the Comets?
Yes. The official Houston Comets post-approval announcement confirms the name, Toyota Center home and continuation of the franchise's records and history.
How many regular-season games will teams play in 2027?
Each WNBA team will play 50 regular-season games in 2027. The league said additional schedule details, including the footprint and key dates, would be announced later.
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