AAC tourney to stay at Mohegan Sun

Mohegan Sun Arena will remain the host of the American Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament through at least 2020.

Every AAC women’s basketball tournament has been held at Mohegan with UConn winning each of the first four tournaments. The contract expired after the 2017 event and the conference announced an agreement to continue playing the tournament there from 2018-2020.

The 2018 event will mark the 16th straight season UConn’s conference tournament will be played in Connecticut. The Big East tournament was held in Hartford from 2004-13. Beginning

in a tournament played in their home state came in 2004 when Boston College upset the Huskies in the semifinals.

“We are pleased that we are continuing our partnership with Mohegan Sun Arena,” American Athletic Conference Commissioner Mike Aresco said in a release. “Our women’s championship has become the premier tournament in the country thanks to our terrific fan support and thanks to the outstanding venue and the hospitality of everyone at Mohegan Sun. Our large crowds have enjoyed watching our teams compete, and our studentathletes, coaches and fans look forward to this great event each year.”

The 2018 Championship will take place March 3-6. The conference has averaged 30,334 fans during the four days of the championship and has led Division I conferences in overall tournament attendance in three of the last four years.

JESSICA HILL - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The UConn women’s basketball team pose with the American Athletic Conference championship trophy after defeating South Florida in an NCAA tournament final at Mohegan Sun Arena, Monday, March 6, 2017, in Uncasville, Conn.