Mohegan Sun to host the Big East tourney

Long-rumored but now official, the Big East Women’s Basketball Tournament is headed to Mohegan Sun.

The conference announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement to hold the tournament in Uncasville for the next three seasons.

Chicago had hosted the tournament six of the last seven years, with a brief stop in Milwaukee. But with UConn back in the fold as a full-time member of the Big East, the overwhelming sentiment was to return the event closer to Storrs.

“We’re thrilled to have the Big East Tournament come to Mohegan Sun,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said in a statement. “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.”

The tournament was played in Hartford from 2004-13 following a run of 21 years at on-campus arenas. During those 10 years in Hartford, the Big East led the nation in conference postseason attendance nine times.

However, the crowds had grown smaller since the conference’s breakup. Attendance for March’s final at Wintrust Arena in Chicago dipped to 2,340.

“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,” league commissioner Val Ackerman said.

DePaul has won the last three Big East tournament titles and five of the last seven. UConn has 18 Big

East postseason championships to its name.

Mohegan Sun housed the American Athletic Conference Tournament during UConn’s seven years in the conference. The Huskies never lost a game in AAC play, finishing 139-0.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press UConn holds up the American Athletic Conference championship trophy after beating Cincinnati to win the league championship at Mohegan Sun Arena in March. With UConn back in the conference, the Big East announced Tuesday that it will hold its league tournament at Mohegan Sun.