BIG EAST and ESPN+ Ink Six-Year Streaming Deal for 2025-26: Boost for Women’s Basketball and Olympic Sports

July 8, 2025 | New York, NY – The BIG EAST Conference has announced a groundbreaking six-year digital media rights agreement with ESPN, set to transform college sports streaming starting in the 2025-26 academic season. This landmark deal will bring a minimum of 75 women’s basketball games, 200 Olympic sports events, and 25 men’s basketball non-conference games annually to ESPN+, significantly boosting the visibility of BIG EAST athletics. Moving from FloSports to ESPN’s premier streaming platform, this partnership promises enhanced exposure and accessibility for fans worldwide.

A New Era for BIG EAST Sports on ESPN+

The agreement, effective from the 2025-26 season through 2030-31, positions ESPN+ as the primary streaming home for BIG EAST sports, covering 22 sports across the conference’s 11 member institutions, including UConn, Creighton, Georgetown, and Villanova. According to Creighton University Athletics, this deal will deliver “hundreds of live BIG EAST events” to ESPN’s robust college sports portfolio, ensuring fans have a streamlined viewing experience on a platform with over 25 million subscribers.

“This exciting partnership with ESPN reinforces our commitment to placing BIG EAST teams front and center on the leading digital sports platform,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman. “Streaming on ESPN+ gives all 22 of our sports—especially women’s basketball and Olympic sports—the visibility they’ve earned.”

What’s Included in the Deal?

The ESPN+ agreement guarantees:

• 75+ Women’s Basketball Games: A minimum of 75 women’s basketball games will stream annually, tripling the current coverage and spotlighting powerhouse programs like UConn, which has a storied history in the sport.
• 200+ Olympic Sports Events: Events across sports like soccer, lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, and softball will gain unprecedented exposure, with at least 200 events streamed each year.
• 25 Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Games: Fans can catch 25 non-conference men’s basketball games, complementing existing linear TV deals with FOX, NBC, and TNT Sports.

Unlike the previous FloSports arrangement, this direct-to-consumer deal with ESPN+ is not a sublicense, ensuring seamless integration with ESPN’s ecosystem. The move has been met with enthusiasm on X, with users like @gocreighton and @ButlerAthletics celebrating the shift to a more accessible platform.

Why This Matters for Fans

The transition to ESPN+ is a game-changer for BIG EAST fans, offering a more affordable and widely accessible streaming option compared to FloSports. As noted on The Boneyard, this deal makes ESPN+ a compelling choice for fans, especially when bundled with Hulu Live subscriptions for around $83/month, compared to pricier alternatives like YouTube TV.

“This is actually fine,” one X user posted, suggesting that the deal primarily covers content previously on FloSports, minimizing impact on men’s basketball while boosting visibility for women’s basketball and Olympic sports. For fans of teams like Creighton and UConn, this means more games, including baseball and softball, will be available on a platform known for its user-friendly interface and extensive sports coverage.

Enhancing BIG EAST’s Legacy

The BIG EAST Conference, established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, is renowned for its competitive excellence, boasting four men’s basketball national championships and titles in women’s basketball, field hockey, and more. This deal builds on a decades-long relationship with ESPN, which began in 1980 and ran through 2013.

“We’re pleased to welcome the BIG EAST back to ESPN,” said Nick Dawson, ESPN’s Senior Vice President of Programming & Acquisitions. “This agreement returns one of the country’s premier conferences to our platforms, and we look forward to this new chapter.”

The deal complements existing linear TV agreements with FOX, NBC, and TNT Sports, which cover over 150 men’s basketball games and 65 women’s basketball games annually, ensuring maximum exposure across both streaming and broadcast platforms.

What’s Next for BIG EAST Fans?

As ESPN prepares to launch its new direct-to-consumer platform in fall 2025, which will include ESPN+, fans can expect an elevated viewing experience with enhanced coverage of BIG EAST sports. The agreement also aligns with the NCAA’s broader media rights deal with ESPN, which includes 40 championships and emphasizes women’s sports exposure.

For NRI fans and global audiences, this partnership ensures easier access to BIG EAST action, whether it’s cheering for UConn’s women’s basketball dynasty or following Olympic sports like men’s lacrosse. Stay tuned to NRI Globe for updates on game schedules, streaming guides, and more as the 2025-26 season approaches.

Keywords: BIG EAST ESPN+ streaming, women’s basketball streaming, Olympic sports ESPN+, men’s basketball non-conference games, BIG EAST 2025-26 season, college sports streaming, UConn basketball, Creighton athletics, ESPN+ subscription, NCAA media rights

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