UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- The past 13 months for the Connecticut Sun and their fans have been ones of confusion and heartache as the franchise's sale and relocation went from possibility to reality, all while wins on the court became more difficult to come by.
But the final moments of the organization's storied 24-season history in Connecticut will be remembered as ones of celebration, joy and winning.
The Sun prevailed 95-81 on Thursday over the Toronto Tempo in their final game before the franchise's impending relocation to Houston, bringing a sellout crowd of 8,911 at Mohegan Sun Arena to its feet as the clock ticked down to zero.
The Sun had just 10 wins on the season entering Thursday and had dropped six straight. A loss against Toronto would have ensured them the best odds at the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft.
But the young, rebuilding Sun knew they were playing Thursday for more than what any numbers or records could reflect.
"Coach spoke about us playing for our pride -- pride for our fans, pride for our name, pride for the organization itself," said guard Ashlon Jackson, whose 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining marked the final points in franchise history. "I think we did just that."
Even once the final buzzer sounded, the fans did not want to leave. They watched the team gather for one final photo at half court. They watched WNBA legend Brittney Griner take the Sun flag and run around the floor before going around and high-fiving fans sitting courtside.
They watched Aaliyah Edwards, who starred collegiately at nearby UConn, declare on the postgame broadcast, "This is the basketball capital of the world, baby! Don't ever forget!"
Team president Jen Rizzotti -- a self-described Connecticut girl and UConn legend who will move with the team to Houston -- then addressed the crowd, revealing fans would be permitted to stay in the arena well after the game ended to get autographs from the players.
"You've never disappointed," Rizzotti said through tears. "You've proved that Connecticut deserves a WNBA team. And I just want you all to know that no matter what happens from here, this team, as they move onto the next chapter of their careers, the success that all of them have in their future, you will always be a part of that. Always."
Unlike previous WNBA franchises that relocated or folded abruptly, the Sun's sale and relocation was rather drawn out. The team initially tried to sell the franchise to an ownership group in Boston last summer before that was blocked by the league. The sale to the Fertitta family and relocation to Houston was eventually announced in March, allowing the Sun to commemorate the franchise's history all summer, including by honoring several former players and coaches at games as part of their Sun Legends program.
But the finality of it all started to hit Rizzotti the past few weeks after returning from the FIBA break. On Thursday, it was unavoidable.
"Today feels different," she told ESPN before the game. "We've known this was coming, but it's actually here, and it's the last time we're going to put on a show."
The Sun became Connecticut's only major professional sports team in 2003 when the Mohegan Tribe bought what was the Orlando Miracle and relocated the team to Uncasville, Connecticut.
Despite being in such a small market, the franchise found a way to be successful on the court, recording 16 playoff berths and four Finals appearances, most recently in 2019 and 2022.
"The Mohegan Tribe bought a team when it wasn't popular to own a WNBA team," Rizzotti told ESPN on Thursday. "They supported it and invested in it at times where it wasn't profitable, and they were at the forefront of treating the players a certain way. Even building the facility that they did for us to practice in. Although things have passed us by, I don't want people to forget what the tribe did to bring a team here and support it for two decades.
"I don't think you talk about the WNBA without the Connecticut Sun and what it's meant on the court and the players that have played here and the sustained success that it had for such a long time."
With the Sun moving to Houston, the possibility of another WNBA team returning to New England -- where Connecticut has served as women's basketball hub since the 1990s -- remains unclear.
"A lot of our emotion comes from we feel like we're leaving this void [in the community]," Rizzotti said. "But we also feel proud that we're leaving a legacy of giving back to the state that's given us so much."
But the Sun gave their fans a final show to remember as young standouts Jackson, Edwards, Raegan Beers, Hailey Van Lith and Gianna Kneepkens fueled a 57-point second half that allowed Connecticut to comfortably pull away and keep the energy high at Mohegan Sun Arena.
"Tonight they played with pride," Connecticut coach Rachid Meziane said. "But I also saw a team playing with a lot of joy, and it's also why I am very proud of them ... as a coach, it was very important for me to finish the season like that."
Added Edwards: "Going through such a tough season like we did, I know it was supposed to be our 'Sunset Season,' we were trying to chase a championship, and some of us are holding our heads down on that.
"But ultimately, we're holding our heads up high because we were part of a legacy. We were part of the impact, and everyone today and before today made history by just pouring into a franchise when no one else would."
