During an interview with Championship Productions in December 2012, Geno Auriemma expressed himself without mincing words. The renowned UConn Huskies women’s basketball head coach delivered a statement that he thought represented his program and college basketball in general.
Direct, remorseless, and razor-focused on the distinction between merely being there and truly earning your spot, he said (2:13):
“I think we’ve lost a bit of that competitive spirit in this country. Everyone gets rewarded just for showing up. Everyone gets a medal for participating. But at Connecticut, it doesn’t work like that. You don’t get medals just for being here. You don’t get rewarded for simply showing up.”
Due in large part to this mentality, Auriemma has established one of the most successful programs in women’s college basketball. The foundation of the Huskies’ program has been built on putting forth full effort in everything that they do. From practice to the actual games, Auriemma has been known to make sure his players earn every single moment they get.
When he took over in 1985, UConn’s goal was to establish a standard, not just to win. Players were encouraged to develop as well as perform under Auriemma. Excellence was expected, not just effort for the sake of it. This mindset has led to over 1100 victories, 12 national titles, and a long list of players who left UConn as legends.
His words get across to his players as well. On an episode of Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s “Thanalysis” show in Oct. 2024, former UConn and Seattle Storm star Sue Bird recalled one of Auriemma’s speeches before a World Cup game in 2010. Team USA was blown out by Australia a couple of months prior, as they had apparently been out celebrating the night before. Auriemma was still able to ignite his team before the game with that memory.
“Then he sums it up and goes, ‘But, they didn’t know you were all hungover! So, let’s go kill them.’ He had a way of bringing something up, then bringing it back around where it really motivated you,” she said.
Paige Bueckers Impersonates UConn Coach Geno Auriemma at WNBA All-Star Game
In the recent WNBA All-Star game in Indianapolis, former UConn star Paige Bueckers helped Team Napheesa Collier beat Team Caitlin Clark 151-131.
During a mid-game interview, ESPN’s Ryan Ruocco asked Bueckers what Coach Auriemma would have said about the defense in the game.
Impersonating Geno Auriemma, Bueckers said:
“Just complete awful. Disturbing demonstration of basketball on both ends of the floor.”
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