UConn’s olympic sports will be more accessible than ever.
On Tuesday, the Big East announced a new six-year digital rights agreement to stream on ESPN+. The deal is centered on women’s basketball and olympic sports, though it’ll also include some non-conference men’s basketball games as well.
ESPN+ will host at least 75 women’s basketball, 200 olympic sports and 25 out-of-conference men’s basketball contests beginning with the upcoming 2025-26 academic year. It’ll replace the Big East Digital Network, which was previously stranded on Flo Sports — a streaming service that combined high prices with poor functionality.
The rights are strictly digital, so nothing will be broadcast on ESPN’s family of networks. The Big East announced a linear TV deal with Fox, NBC Sports and TNT Sports last summer that’ll also run through the 2030-31 season.
The move seems unlikely to affect UConn women’s basketball much, if at all. The Huskies never appeared on the Big East Digital Network in the past and even their least attractive games should end up on either Peacock or Max now that SNY is no longer in the mix. The broadcast schedule is typically released in October.
As for UConn’s olympic sports — soccer, baseball, softball, etc. — they’ll be easier to watch than ever. Practically every game will be on ESPN+ with the exception of a few non-conference road trips.
The first official contest of the upcoming athletic season is set for Sunday, Aug. 17 when UConn women’s soccer takes on Stony Brook at Morrone Stadium in Storrs.