Casino acquiring WNBA franchise

Donna Tommelleo

Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003 | 10:38 a.m.

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Women's professional basketball is returning to Connecticut after an absence of more than four years.

The Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville has called a news conference for today. The casino and the WNBA will announce the acquisition of the former Orlando Miracle, a source familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Nykesha Sales, former University of Connecticut star and the Miracle's first franchise draft pick, is scheduled to attend today's announcement along with WNBA Commissioner Val Ackerman and Connecticut Lt. Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

The team will play in the casino's 10,000-seat arena. The league has said it will allow a casino to host a team as long as there is no sports betting at the casino. There is no sports book at the Mohegan Sun. The NBA has played exhibition games at the arena.

The league changed its business model in October, ending central ownership of teams and cutting ties that bound teams to NBA franchises. Orlando and the league's Miami franchise both folded and the Utah franchise moved to San Antonio.

The league has been interested in placing a franchise in Connecticut because of the state's strong interest in women's basketball. UConn's women's teams have won three national championships in seven years (the men have won a fourth) and their games are sellouts at the 10,000-seat Gampel Pavilion on campus and the 16,000-seat Hartford Civic Center.