A Regional Rivalry Revived
The University of Maine’s women’s basketball team will open the November series at home against Siena on November 5, then travel to face Merrimack on November 8. The men’s squad will make the opposite trek, visiting Sacred Heart on November 5 before hosting Manhattan on November 8.
The matchups are part of a two‑year arrangement that will extend through the 2026‑27 and 2027‑28 seasons, establishing the first basketball challenge between two Northeast‑based Division I conferences.
Both leagues share a regional footprint, a mutual broadcast partner in ESPN, and a common sponsorship rights holder in Van Wagner, ensuring extensive coverage and commercial support for the contests.
Last season the UMaine women posted a 19‑13 record but fell to Vermont in the America East tournament final, while the men went 0‑4 against MAAC opponents, dropping each game by seven points or fewer.
Siena finished tied for fifth in the MAAC standings and were eliminated by Iona in the quarterfinals, whereas Merrimack went 15‑5 in the regular season before bowing to Fairfield in the semifinals.
All games will be aired on ESPN, leveraging the conferences’ shared media platform, and the arrangement is expected to bolster recruiting and fan engagement across the region.
Looking Ahead
With the schedule set, both programs turn their focus to preparation, knowing that each early‑season test will shape their trajectory for the remainder of the year.