Big East Women's Tournament Lands in CT

UNCASVILLE–The Big East Women's Basketball tourament will be played at the Mohegan Sun Arena beginning in 2021, the conference announced today. The agreement spans three years and includes the 2021, 2022 and 2023 conference postseason tournaments.

The Big East just completed a three-year run for the event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Ill.The move follows the recent readmission of the University of Connecticut to the Big East as a member school. UConn was a charter member of the Big East when the conference was formed in 1979 and formally re-joined the conference on July 1, 2020.  The 11-time national champion Huskies spent the past seven years in the American Athletic Conference, winning all seven women's basketball league tournaments and going 118-0 in conference action.

“We’re thrilled to have the Big East Tournament come to Mohegan Sun," said UConn head coach Geno Auriemma. "We have the best women’s basketball fans in the nation in Connecticut and they’ll be excited to see UConn back in the Big East. Continue wearing masks and taking necessary health and safety precautions so this tournament can take place in 2021.”

​"We are very excited to bring one of the Big East's premier competitions to Mohegan Sun Arena, a one-of-a-kind facility that has long served as one of the best women's basketball venues in the country," said Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman.  "We are proud to welcome the Huskies and their women's basketball fans back into the Big East fold, and we look forward to working with Amber Cox and her staff to deliver a memorable and first-class experience for our student-athletes, coaches and supporters."

The Mohegan Sun Arena is a 10,000-seat venue located in southeastern Connecticut offering features year-round entertainment. It has hosted the likes of Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Keith Urban, Bon Jovi and Kenny Chesney in addition to championship boxing and MMA, top-touring stand-up comedy, WWE, NCAA Division I and professional basketball. In addition, the Mohegan Sun Arena has been the home of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun since 2003. The WNBA is playing its 2020 season at the IMG Academy in Floriday because of the coronovirus pandemic.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament to Mohegan Sun Arena,” said Amber Cox, Vice President of the Connecticut Sun and the National Lacrosse League’s New England Black Wolves. “Connecticut is the women’s basketball capital of the world, with the most passionate fans in the country, supporting both the UConn Huskies and the Sun year-round. This marquee event is sure to be a highlight for all Big East fans, who will not only get to enjoy incredible basketball action, but all the entertainment offerings of Mohegan Sun as well.”

The past seven Big East Women’s Basketball Tournaments have been played in the Midwest – 2014-15 at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.; 2016 at McGrath-Phillips Arena on DePaul University’s campus in Chicago; 2017 at the Al McGuire Center on Marquette University’s campus in Milwaukee, Wis.; before a three-year run at Wintrust Arena in downtown Chicago. Prior to conference realignment in 2013-14, the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament was played for 10 consecutive seasons at the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., following a run of 21 years at on-campus arenas. The Big East led the nation in conference postseason attendance for nine of 10 years while in Hartford.

DePaul has won the last three Big East Women's Basketball Tournament titles and five of the last seven to rank second to only Connecticut for championships won. The Huskies have 18 Big East postseason crowns to their credit, most recently winning in 2012. St. John’s (2016, 1988, 1984, 1983), Villanova (2003, 1987, 1986), Marquette (2017) and Providence (1990) have also won the Big East Tournament.
                                                                                                                                            –Staff Reports