Who is Connecticut Sun's owner?

The Connecticut Sun, an American professional basketball team from Uncasville, Connecticut, competes in the Women's National Basketball Association's (WNBA) Eastern Conference. The team was originally founded as the Orlando Miracle in 1999 during the league's expansion from ten to twelve teams, serving as a sister team to the NBA's Orlando Magic.

Connecticut Sun Owners

The Mohegan Tribe, a federally recognised sovereign tribal nation of the Mohegan people, is the owner of the Connecticut Sun team in the WNBA. They are based in the Mohegan Indian Reservation along the Thames River in Uncasville. In 2003, facing financial difficulties that nearly led to their dissolution, the team was purchased by the Mohegan Indian tribe and moved to Mohegan Sun, marking the first time a Native American tribe owned a professional sports franchise. Renamed the Connecticut Sun, the team moved to Uncasville, Connecticut, where they are managed by Mohegan Sun and host their games at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

The Mohegan Tribal Council, elected for staggered four-year terms, holds all executive and legislative powers not designated to the Council of Elders under the Tribe's Constitution. The Chairperson serves as the Chief Executive Officer, enacting Tribal laws and overseeing tribal affairs. All members of the Tribal Council are part of the Management Board of Mohegan.

James Gessner Jr

James Gessner Jr., the Chairman, is responsible for maintaining the sovereignty of the Mohegan Tribe, overseeing its various business ventures, and ensuring the welfare of over 2,200 Tribal members. He also leads the Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment Management Board, which manages gaming operations nationwide, including the Connecticut Sun.

Sarah E. Harris

Sarah E. Harris, the Vice Chairwoman, is in her second term on the Tribal Council. She previously worked as an attorney in Washington, DC, representing Native American tribes and entities. In 2013, she was appointed Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs by the President. She had served as Special Assistant to the Solicitor at the US Department of the Interior. Harris earned her Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Native American Studies from Dartmouth College.

Kim Baker is serving her first term as Recording Secretary of the Tribal Council. Joseph M. Soper is the Corresponding Secretary. Thayne D. Hutchins, Jr., the Treasurer, has been a Council member since 2007 and has prior experience in the Tribe’s finance department. Mark F. Brown, a direct descendant of the renowned Mohegan Chief Matagha, was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1995 after the Mohegan Tribe’s federal recognition and played a crucial role in those recognition efforts.

William Quidgeon, Jr. was elected to the Tribal Council in 2005 and served as Treasurer from 2005 to 2009. John G. Harris and Kenneth Davison serve as Councilors.