UConn women’s basketball won the 2026 Big East Tournament with a 90-51 win over the Villanova Wildcats at Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday night. It’s the Huskies’ 31 conference tournament title and 24th in the Big East.
Sarah Strong won Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player, finishing with 18 points and eight rebounds. KK Arnold and Azzi Fudd both made the all-tournament team, with Arnold adding 10 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals while Fudd led the team with 19 points and picked up three steals.
Advertisement
UConn officially punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, earning the Big East’s automatic bid.
The Huskies took it to Villanova from the jump. They scored the first two buckets and ripped off a 10-0 run soon after in which every starter scored. Dani Ceseretti did her best to keep the Wildcats close, scoring their final eight points in the quarter. It wasn’t enough, though.
UConn piled up the runs in the second quarter. The Huskies scored 10 straight points, followed it up with seven in a row soon and closed the half with the last four points. The Huskies went into the locker room ahead by 26.
UConn only extended its lead by three in third quarter, though Geno Auriemma also began to empty his bench earlier than usual. It proved inconsequential all the same. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the Huskies secured a 39-point victory, and with it, the Big East Tournament title.
Advertisement
With the win, UConn improves to 33-0 overall and extends its win streak in league play to 70 games.
The Huskies will find out their path to a 13th national championship later this week on Selection Sunday before kicking off the NCAA Tournament on either Friday, Mar. 20 or Saturday, Mar. 21.
