WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stripped New England of its only team despite its success and wouldn't allow the Mohegan Tribe to sell to Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca to keep the franchise in Boston. It's a betrayal that the city's fervent sports fans won't soon forget—or forgive.

In 2003, the Mohegan Tribe saved a WNBA franchise from an imminent demise. The Tribe has never gotten enough credit for transforming the Orlando Miracle into the Connecticut Sun and operating it successfully for more than two decades. Amid the league's disrespectful treatment of the Mohegan Tribe, we extend some flowers.

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert stripped New England of its only team despite the Connecticut Sun's two decades of success. The WNBA Board of Governors should not approve any deal that excludes an entire geographic region and removing a successful franchise should be disallowed. In Part I of our series "Stripping New England of Its Only WNBA Team Doesn't Grow the League," we examine the motives and optics of the league's after-hours news dribble.