Women's Basketball 3/9/2026 7:50:00 PM BIG EAST Extends Deal With Mohegan Sun Arena Three-year extension keeps the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament in Uncasville, Conn. through 2029 NEW YORK – The BIG EAST Conference has announced a three-year extension with Mohegan Sun Arena to serve as host of the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament presented by JEEP. The Conference and Mohegan Sun are in the last year of their second three-year deal, and the extension guarantees the event will remain in Uncasville, Conn., through 2029. “Since 2021, Mohegan Sun Arena has proven to be an outstanding venue for the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “Our tournament is supported at a very high level by fans in the State of Connecticut, and Mohegan Sun's world-class facility and amenities offer our coaches, student-athletes, and fans an unrivaled championship environment. We are very excited to continue this partnership and to call Uncasville the home of BIG EAST Women's Basketball for years to come." The 2026 BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Championship game is scheduled for tonight, as No. 1 and top-seeded UConn takes on second-seeded Villanova at 7 p.m. ET. Over the last four years, the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament has seen a nearly 30% increase in attendance. The tournament’s average attendance ranks among the best in Division I conferences which host separate men’s and women’s events. “Mohegan Sun is thrilled to once again extend this great partnership in hosting the BIG EAST Women’s Basketball Tournament,” said Jeff Hamilton, President & GM of Mohegan Sun. “This tournament creates an energy that's always special to see across our property, and we’re honored to welcome the regional fans who help fuel that buzz — all while enjoying phenomenal women’s basketball on display every March here inside Mohegan Sun Arena.” The BIG EAST has produced 11 NCAA Championships in women's basketball, including Connecticut's most recent run to the national title in 2025, and 27 NCAA Women’s Final Four appearances. ----- The BIG EAST Conference The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments. The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports. Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University. For more information, visit bigeast.com. Mohegan Sun Arena Mohegan Sun Arena, one of the busiest sports and entertainment venues in the world, was awarded the 2024 Newsweek Readers’ Choice award for “Best Casino with Live Entertainment in America.” Mohegan Sun Arena was also named “Best Casino/Resort Venue of the Year” at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards. In 2021, the 10,000-seat Arena also received its first worldwide “#1 Indoor Arena” ranking for its size from both Pollstar and VenuesNow. In recent years, the “Most Beloved Venue in America” has also been named the “World’s Best Casino Venue,” by Hartford Magazine, and is an eight-time national award winner for “Arena of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music Awards and one from G2E Las Vegas. For more information on concerts and other great events, visit the Mohegan Sun website. For this week’s schedule, call the Entertainment and Special Events hotline at 1.888.226.7711. Complimentary self-parking is available in three convenient garages.