Mohegan — Mohegan Sun Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Etess was encouraged Wednesday about next season's American Athletic Conference women's basketball tournament coming to the casino.

"By no means is it a done deal. Not at all. That decision won't be made until May," Etess said Wednesday in a telephone conversation. "But our talks have been productive."

The XL Center in Hartford, home to the Big East Tournament since 2004, is also a candidate.

The AAC is the name of UConn's new league.

The final decision will be made at the Big East meetings in Florida May 19-22.

Protests from Catholic schools have denied Mohegan Sun's previous bid for the Big East women's basketball tournament.

Mohegan Sun is home to several basketball tournaments, including a six-team tournament tied to the Basketball Hall of Fame in November and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference championships in March.

m.dimauro@theday.com