Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca’s bid to buy the Connecticut Sun and move the team to Boston is brewing excitement over what the WNBA team could mean for fans and the local economy. Pagliuca confirmed Sunday that an offer had been made to buy the team and move it out of Mohegan Sun Arena, but he said there were still approvals that had not been obtained from the WNBA. A person with knowledge of the sale told the Associated Press the offer is a record-setting $325 million. Pagliuca also would contribute $100 million for a new practice facility in Boston for the team, the source said.”Central to our proposal is enabling the Sun to play in larger capacity arenas in New England. We believe our record-setting offer and deep commitment to growing the WNBA in the region that is home to the most passionate basketball fans in the nation will significantly benefit the league, the team, and all its fans,” Pagliuca said in a statement. If the deal is approved by the league’s board of governors, the franchise would begin playing in Boston for the 2027 season. “I know this is a decision that sits with the WNBA themselves and the league, but the city of Boston is ready to do whatever we could to welcome them,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said. The mayor highlighted the excitement surrounding the proposal, pointing out that there have been two sold-out WNBA games at the Garden over the last two years.”We know this would mean a lot of economic opportunity. This would mean just a filling of a gap that I think the city feels very much, that we don’t have a WNBA team in the city of champions,” Wu said. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a former professional basketball player, also expressed support for the Sun moving to Boston.”Boston is the perfect place for a WNBA team. We are the hub of New England and the birthplace of basketball. We have an incredible sports culture and strong enthusiasm for women’s sports,” she said.Earlier this year, Pagliuca bid to buy a controlling share of the Celtics, but Wyc Grousbeck and the Boston Celtics ownership group accepted a different bid from William Chisholm, managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group.

BOSTON —

Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca’s bid to buy the Connecticut Sun and move the team to Boston is brewing excitement over what the WNBA team could mean for fans and the local economy.

Pagliuca confirmed Sunday that an offer had been made to buy the team and move it out of Mohegan Sun Arena, but he said there were still approvals that had not been obtained from the WNBA. A person with knowledge of the sale told the Associated Press the offer is a record-setting $325 million.

Pagliuca also would contribute $100 million for a new practice facility in Boston for the team, the source said.

“Central to our proposal is enabling the Sun to play in larger capacity arenas in New England. We believe our record-setting offer and deep commitment to growing the WNBA in the region that is home to the most passionate basketball fans in the nation will significantly benefit the league, the team, and all its fans,” Pagliuca said in a statement.

If the deal is approved by the league’s board of governors, the franchise would begin playing in Boston for the 2027 season.

“I know this is a decision that sits with the WNBA themselves and the league, but the city of Boston is ready to do whatever we could to welcome them,” Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said.

The mayor highlighted the excitement surrounding the proposal, pointing out that there have been two sold-out WNBA games at the Garden over the last two years.

“We know this would mean a lot of economic opportunity. This would mean just a filling of a gap that I think the city feels very much, that we don’t have a WNBA team in the city of champions,” Wu said.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, a former professional basketball player, also expressed support for the Sun moving to Boston.

“Boston is the perfect place for a WNBA team. We are the hub of New England and the birthplace of basketball. We have an incredible sports culture and strong enthusiasm for women’s sports,” she said.

Earlier this year, Pagliuca bid to buy a controlling share of the Celtics, but Wyc Grousbeck and the Boston Celtics ownership group accepted a different bid from William Chisholm, managing director and co-founder of Symphony Technology Group.