| Houston Comets | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Western |
| Leagues | WNBA |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Dissolved | 2008 |
| History | Houston Comets 1997–2008 |
| Arena | Compaq Center (1997–2003) Toyota Center (2004–2007) Reliant Arena (2008) |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Team colors | Fireball Red, Stardust Silver, White, Galaxy Blue |
| Championships | 4 (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000) |
| Conference titles | 3 (1998, 1999, 2000) |
The Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Houston. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. They are one of two teams in the WNBA that are undefeated in the WNBA Finals; the Seattle Storm are the other. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and are tied with the Minnesota Lynx and Seattle Storm for the most championships of any WNBA franchise. Despite all of their success, the team was folded and disbanded by the league in 2008 during the height of the Great Recession because new ownership could not be found.[1][2][3][4]
The Comets were known for courting great women's basketball stars. The team had among its members Cynthia Cooper (the WNBA's first MVP); college and national team standout Sheryl Swoopes; Kim Perrot, who succumbed to cancer in 1999; and college stars Michelle Snow and Tina Thompson.
- ^ Holmes, Baxter (December 30, 2009). "This time around, sports aren't recession-proof". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard (2008-12-03). "W.N.B.A. Folds Its Houston Team Over Finances". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ Sandomir, Richard; Belson, Ken (2009-03-21). "In Economic Downturn, Corporate Ties Put Bind on Sports". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ Riper, Tom Van. "How The Economy Is Squeezing Sports". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-04-04.