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TD Garden has hosted countless memorable Boston Celtics moments, but the arena’s brief run as an occasional WNBA home came to a bittersweet end Tuesday night. The Connecticut Sun defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 85-77 in front of 16,378 fans at the Celtics’ home arena. The victory marked the third and final time the Sun will play in Boston before the franchise relocates to Houston next season.Connecticut described 2026 as its “sunset season,” and Tuesday represented another meaningful goodbye. The Sun still have games remaining on their schedule, but their final appearance at TD Garden closed a three-year chapter that showed Boston could support professional women’s basketball. Connecticut Sun Leave Celtics’ Home With Victory Connecticut gave the Boston crowd one final reason to celebrate. Olivia Nelson-Ododa led the Sun with 18 points and 11 rebounds despite the absences of Brittney Griner and Aaliyah Edwards. Kennedy Burke added 17 points as Connecticut snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 9-25. The Sun led for most of the night before holding off the Sparks in the closing minutes. “I’m just glad we could leave on such a high note,” Nelson-Ododa told MassLive’s Souichi Terada. “Boston has shown us nothing but love for the past three seasons playing here.” The atmosphere did not quite match the Sun’s first two visits to TD Garden. Connecticut’s inaugural Boston game against Los Angeles in 2024 produced a sellout and considerable excitement. The Sun returned in 2025 for a highly anticipated matchup featuring Caitlin Clark, whose presence helped create another major event at the arena. Tuesday’s attendance was smaller, but the announced crowd of 16,378 still offered evidence of Boston’s appetite for the WNBA. Fans also gathered for a block party on Canal Street before the game. The free event allowed the Sun to celebrate their relationship with the city one final time. “We have our own sunset season happening right now,” Nelson-Ododa said. “But also kind of saying farewell to here and the support that we have here, like I said, it’s bittersweet.” MORE: Celtics Have an Incredible Record When This Bench Player Scores 10+ Points Boston’s WNBA Future Remains Uncertain The Sun’s departure carries significance beyond Connecticut. Former Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca previously attempted to purchase the franchise from the Mohegan Tribe and relocate it to Boston. His proposed deal reportedly included a $325 million purchase price and another $100 million for a new training facility. That plan would have made the WNBA a permanent tenant in the same arena where the Celtics play. The league did not approve the relocation proposal, emphasizing that its Board of Governors controls where franchises are placed. Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta ultimately purchased the Sun, who will become the Houston Comets in 2027. The move ends the Sun’s run in Connecticut, where the franchise has played since 2003. It also leaves Boston without an obvious path to a WNBA team in the immediate future. The league plans to expand to 18 teams by 2030, with Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia already scheduled to receive franchises. Boston has not been included in those expansion plans. Massachusetts officials, however, have not abandoned the possibility. Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll told MassLive that the state remains willing to support a future WNBA team. Boston already is home to women’s professional soccer through Boston Legacy FC and women’s professional hockey through the Boston Fleet. “We are ready for professional women’s hoop,” Driscoll said. Tuesday’s crowd supported that argument. The Sun struggled throughout their final season in Connecticut and arrived in Boston with one of the WNBA’s worst records. The impending relocation also removed some of the excitement that surrounded their previous TD Garden appearances. More than 16,000 people still attended. The WNBA eventually could reconsider Boston as it continues expanding. The market has a historic basketball identity, an established arena and fans who supported all three Sun appearances. For now, the league’s short stay at the Celtics’ home is over. Connecticut at least ensured it ended with a victory.