TWT Sports Desk | The Waterbury Times
November 2, 2026
Storrs- Connecticut basketball is back, and tonight marks the beginning of a season that will give sports fans across the state plenty to rally behind.
The University of Connecticut men’s and women’s basketball programs open their 2026-27 regular seasons Monday night in Hartford, with a special doubleheader at PeoplesBank Arena. Two programs. Two season openers. One state ready for basketball.
The No. 2 nationally ranked UConn women’s team gets things started at 5 p.m. against Cornell. The Huskies, led by head coach Geno Auriemma, enter another season with championship expectations and a familiar place among the nation’s elite programs.
At 9 p.m., Dan Hurley’s men’s team takes the floor against Gardner-Webb. UConn enters the season as the Big East preseason favorite, with expectations once again reaching well beyond conference play.
The doubleheader arrives at an interesting moment for Connecticut sports.
With the Connecticut Sun playing their final season in the state before relocating to Houston for 2027, Connecticut is losing its only major-league professional sports franchise. The Sun’s departure marks the end of an important chapter in the state’s professional sports history and leaves a noticeable void for fans who have supported the organization over the years.
But Connecticut has something that professional sports franchises cannot manufacture overnight: a deeply established college basketball tradition.
UConn basketball is part of the state’s identity. From championship banners and packed arenas to generations of fans who have grown up following the Huskies, the men’s and women’s programs represent a shared sporting tradition that extends well beyond the university.
And this season, The Waterbury Times intends to be part of that conversation.
Introducing the TWT Sports Desk’s UConn Basketball Season Coverage
Beginning tonight, The Waterbury Times TWT Sports Desk will follow both UConn basketball programs throughout the 2026-27 season, covering the men and women from opening night through the conference tournaments and into March Madness.
Our coverage will follow the games, the storylines, the performances, the defining moments and the road toward another opportunity to compete for a national championship.
We will be watching both programs, tracking their progress and bringing Connecticut basketball fans coverage throughout the season.
This is about more than keeping score. It’s about following two programs that have helped put Connecticut on the national sports map and giving their supporters another place to stay connected.
Connecticut may be saying goodbye to the Sun, but the basketball season is just getting started.
Tonight, the Huskies take center stage. And TWT Sports Desk will be along for the ride all the way to March Madness.
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