UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma is testing the media waters this summer. The 12-time national champion recently appeared on Richard Deitsch's Sports Media podcast, where he revealed that 12 episodes of his new show have already been recorded.
Geno Auriemma Embarks on Summer Media Blitz
Rather than basketball, the podcast focuses on high achievers across industries and what drives their success. It echoes a 2017 podcast Auriemma hosted called Holding Court with Geno Auriemma that featured everyone from Tiger Woods to Kobe Bryant to former National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
"It's not necessarily about basketball at all," Auriemma said of his new show. "I bet you we've had maybe two basketball people on, the rest is about people who have reached a certain level of excellence and asking them things relative to that so that people watching can say, 'Yeah, that applies to me too.' It's just fascinating for me to listen to these people."
Auriemma also stepped back into the ESPN broadcast booth earlier this week for a one-night-only assignment.
He joined Robin Roberts and play-by-play announcer Beth Mowins to call the Dallas Wings vs. New York Liberty game. The matchup featured several former UConn women's basketball standouts, including Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd, and Breanna Stewart.
The broadcast carried added weight, as Auriemma and Roberts first called ESPN's inaugural WNBA game together back in 1997.
What's the Latest UConn Women's Basketball News for Auriemma?
But a full-time move to media remains unlikely for the winning college coach.
Auriemma has not committed to a permanent TV broadcasting role, and his podcast launch timeline is equally open-ended. For now, the Hall of Fame coach remains focused on Connecticut women's basketball.
Geno Auriemma weighed in on the Caitlin Clark discourse, pushing back against the narrative that hard fouls on the Indiana Fever guard are a reflection of something bigger than just basketball.
Geno Auriemma Downplays Caitlin Clark Hard Fouls
Speaking on the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast, the UConn head coach and 12-time NCAA champion dismissed the notion that on-court physicality against Clark amounts to a cultural divide.
"Every first-round draft pick gets fouled hard," Auriemma said. He acknowledged that some players carry "personal animosities" toward Clark. But the broader WNBA controversy, in his view, is inflated by fan obsession rather than anything happening on the floor.
Auriemma pointed to how intense fandom has turned routine physicality into a national cause, adding that on-court confrontations "are not a referendum on America."
The Alyssa Thomas Incident That Fueled the WNBA Controversy
His comments follow a recent incident involving Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas. Thomas received a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul against Clark. She later revealed she had received death threats from fans for the physical play.
Both Clark and Fever head coach Stephanie White condemned the harassment against the veteran forward. Clark issued a statement calling for the WNBA to do better when it comes to protecting players. She also called the sustained focus on a single play "a disservice to the rest of our league."
Two founding WNBA voices are back, as Robin Roberts and Geno Auriemma return to the ESPN broadcast booth on July 7th. The reunion comes nearly three decades after their first called game.
The Hall of Famers originally teamed up for the first-ever ESPN WNBA telecast in 1997, calling two seasons together before building out decorated careers. Roberts became an Emmy-winning host, while Auriemma helmed UConn’s NCAA dynasty.
Veteran play-by-play commentator Beth Mowins will join the booth. Meanwhile, three of Auriemma’s former Huskies — Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, and Azzi Fudd — will feature in the Wings vs Liberty clash.
“We want to lend our voice and our presence to remind people where it all began and where it comes from. I hope they don’t expect us to be Inside The NBA,” Auriemma joked in an ESPN press release.
“We aren’t there to critique the game in a way that is going to revolutionize anything. We’re there to add some fun and some flavor to an already great telecast.”
Jamelle Elliott is stepping down from the UConn women's basketball coaching staff. The university confirmed she plans to pursue professional opportunities outside of coaching.
Elliott spent more than two decades with the Huskies as both a player and an assistant coach. She contributed to seven national titles, including the program's undefeated 1995 championship run.
Head Coach Geno Auriemma Reacts to Elliot's UConn Departure
Head coach Geno Auriemma praised her commitment, calling her impact on the program difficult to replace.
"We’ll miss Jamelle tremendously, but I’m grateful for all the time we spent together and all that we accomplished together," Auriemma said in a press release.
Elliot called the decision to leave her alma mater difficult, but the right one for this period in her life.
"This was not an easy decision, but I know it is the right time for me to begin a new chapter," she said. "It was a privilege and honor to wear the Husky uniform and be a part of the coaching staff. UConn will always hold a special place in my heart, and I will always love and support our program and the university."
Before joining the bench, Elliott was a forward who pulled down over 1,000 rebounds in her playing career. Her transition from player to recruiter helped shape the program's pipeline for years.
UConn plans to launch an immediate national search for its next assistant coach. The rest of the staff remains in place, including associate head coach Chris Dailey and assistant Tonya Cardoza.
UConn star Sarah Strong capped a historic NCAA season on Friday by winning the 2026 John R. Wooden Award. The annual honor recognizes the nation's most outstanding women's college basketball player.
Strong became the fifth Husky to claim the Wooden Award, joining program legends Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Paige Bueckers. The sophomore forward is additionally just the fourth underclassman to win, after USC guard JuJu Watkins and fellow UConn greats Bueckers and Moore.
Strong beat out finalists Azzi Fudd (UConn), Lauren Betts (UCLA), Mikayla Blakes (Vanderbilt), and Madison Booker (Texas) after finishing the 2025/26 season with unmatched stats. Strong averaged 18.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks while shooting 58.2% from the field and 40.4% from 3-point range.
"She affects every part of the game," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of his star center. "Scoring, defending, rebounding — she does it all."
Sarah Strong Completes NCAA Sweep with Wooden Award Win
The Wooden Award completed Sarah Strong's sweep of major national player of year honors. She also won the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award, AP Player of the Year, the Naismith Trophy, and the Wade Trophy.
Strong additionally earned unanimous Big East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors. Her defensive presence stood out with elite steal rates and rim protection, solidifying her as one of the most complete players in the country.
The daughter of former WNBA All-Star Allison Feaster, the 6-foot-2 forward is a former No. 1 recruit. Since joining the Huskies, Strong has emerged as one of the brightest stars in women's basketball, drawing comparisons to some of UConn's all-time greats.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club presents the Wooden Award each year, spotlighting both athletic excellence as well as character and leadership. Strong's season checked every box, cementing her place among college basketball's elite.
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma put their heated Final Four confrontation behind them Tuesday, as both NCAA coaches released statements calling for the women's basketball community to move forward.
"I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he's meant to this game," Staley wrote. "One moment doesn't define a career, and it doesn't change the impact he's had on growing women's basketball."
Auriemma echoed the sentiment in his second formal apology, acknowledging he "lost" himself during Friday's semifinal.
"This morning, Dawn Staley and I spoke," Auriemma wrote. "I apologized to Dawn, her staff and her team. I've lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday I lost something more important. I lost myself."
The conflict erupted in the final seconds of South Carolina's 62-48 victory over previously undefeated UConn. Auriemma approached Staley for a postgame handshake before angrily confronting her. The exchange escalated until officials and staff stepped in.
After criticizing the referees during the broadcast, Auriemma initially showed no regret in his postgame news conference. He later released his first apology the following day.
Dawn Staley vs. Geno Auriemma Final Four Rivalry Returns Next Season
The South Carolina-UConn rivalry resumes on November 24th, when the programs meet at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Arena.
"Coach Auriemma and Coach Staley have not only built championship programs but have also helped elevate women's basketball to new heights," said Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame CEO and President John L. Doleva.
"Having two Hall of Famers leading their teams in this marquee matchup perfectly represents our mission to honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future of basketball."
For the second consecutive year, South Carolina found itself on the losing end of an NCAA final blowout, falling 79-51 to UCLA on Sunday to mark the third-largest margin of victory in women's title game history.
The Gamecocks shot just 29% from the field and became the first team to lose back-to-back championship games by more than 15 points. The 28-point defeat came one year after UConn handed South Carolina a 23-point loss in the 2025 final.
"To get here is hard, to win here is harder, right?" head coach Dawn Staley said postgame. "Obviously we got smacked today. We got to figure out how we smack back."
NCAA Championship Loss Caps Rocky South Carolina Semifinal
The South Carolina loss capped an emotional weekend for Staley. The lauded coach dealt with fallout from Friday's heated exchange with UConn coach Geno Auriemma following the team's semifinal victory. In the incident, Auriemma approached Staley for a postgame handshake, then angrily confronted her face-to-face before staff separated them.
"I'm of integrity," Staley said following the altercation. "If I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did."
Auriemma issued a statement on Saturday, writing that he had no excuse for how he handled the game's end. However, Staley told ESPN she hadn't heard directly from the Hall of Fame coach despite reports he reached out.
"The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that," Auriemma wrote in his formal apology.
Staley spent much of Sunday's postgame praising UCLA coach Cori Close, who captured her first NCAA title in her 15th season. The two shared a long pregame hug that stood in stark contrast to the Auriemma dust-up.
"I'm always happy for people that worked hard in this game, who are really quality people," Staley said of Close.
Reaching six consecutive Final Fours demonstrates South Carolina's sustained excellence, but Staley and her staff face the challenge of breaking through if they want to claim another NCAA championship title.
Azzi Fudd is simultaneously preparing for the 2026 WNBA Draft while leading UConn into the Final Four in Phoenix — and she's tying her decision to the Huskies' postseason run.
While the fifth-year guard hasn't announced her plans, the timeline is clear. The WNBA entry draft takes place shortly after the NCAA tournament, putting Fudd's future in focus as unbeaten 38-0 UConn tips off against South Carolina.
For now, Fudd says her goal is to remained locked in and avoid looking ahead, even as draft projections place her among the year's top picks.
"My goal all year has been to stay present," the 23-year-old said from Phoenix.
"I know how special it is to be in this program... I want to take full advantage and just really appreciate everything about this year."
As UConn gears up for tonight's 2025 title game rematch, Fudd has remained central to the game plan. Along the way, she and 2026 Naismith Player of the Year Sarah Strong have formed one of the NCAA's most efficient scoring duos.
Meanwhile, coach Geno Auriemma made clear what's at stake for Fudd's legacy this weekend.
"If we win tomorrow and if we win Sunday, Azzi will be crowned one of the greatest of all time," he told reporters.
"If we don't win tomorrow and we don't even get a chance to play on Sunday, she's going to feel like that this was a disappointing year for her."
Fudd's college career already includes the 2025 national title and subsequent Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. She went on to add All-American recognition to her final collegiate year — as well as a chance to cap her tenure with back-to-back NCAA championships.
For now, Azzi is only thinking about finishing the job, helping the Huskies chase their first perfect season since 2016.
How to Watch Azzi Fudd Lead UConn in the 2026 Final Four
UConn takes on South Carolina on Friday, April 3rd at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN.
The winner advances to Sunday's national championship game.
UConn women's basketball hasn't lost a game in 421 days. Now, the undefeated Huskies are two wins away from a perfect 2025/26 NCAA basketball season.
The defending champions enter the Final Four undefeated, extending a run that dates back to last season and has carried through one of the most dominant stretches in program history. It marks UConn's fourth straight Final Four appearance, with the team chasing its first perfect season since 2015/16.
The team's consistency has extended to both ends of the floor. UConn has controlled tempo early, limited turnovers, and avoided extended scoring droughts, creating ample daylight well before late-game situations become a factor.
Head coach Geno Auriemma has kept the group steady throughout his team's run, with UConn carrying the same approach from the regular season into Women's March Madness.
The Huskies have advanced through the NCAA Tournament without a close finish, leaning on cultivated depth and savvy defense.
That effort has been led by Naismith Player of the Year center Sarah Strong and guard Azzi Fudd. Strong's averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game, while Fudd is shooting 45.5% from the 3-point range.
According to Fudd, UConn has been cultivating confidence all season.
"What we've done the last (38) games was all in preparation for moments like this," she said. "So when it comes down to it, we have full confidence in ourselves, in each other. We know the coaches feel the same."
UConn next faces No. 1 seed South Carolina in the NCAA Final Four, anticipating what could be the Huskies' toughest test of the season after the Gamecocks battled through DI women's basketball's deepest conference: the SEC.
How to Watch UConn Women's Basketball in the NCAA Final Four
UConn meets South Carolina in Phoenix on Friday at 7 PM ET, live on ESPN with a spot in the NCAA championship on the line.
The title game follows on Sunday, tipping off at 3:30 PM ET.
UConn coach Geno Auriemma criticized Women's March Madness scheduling on Saturday, laying into the NCAA basketball tournament's organizers after the Huskies' 63-42 Sweet 16 win over UNC.
The legendary manager complained about poor 3-point shooting across all Friday games, citing specific statistics to reporters.
"4-for-20, 4-for-22, 1-for-17, 5-for-18, 4-for-16, 7-for-26. That's the 3-point shooting across the country," Auriemma said.
The numbers included Sweet 16 contenders UConn, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Vanderbilt, UCLA, and Duke — teams that normally shoot over 30% from three.
Auriemma then targeted the NCAA basketball tournament's practice and media scheduling. UConn held a shoot-around at approximately 6 AM the previous day. They subsequently conducted Women's March Madness media availability, before starting practice at 6:30 PM later that day. Notre Dame faced similar circumstances with a 5:30 PM practice.
"What did you have to ask them this morning that you didn't ask them last night?" Auriemma asked reporters.
"You know what time our practice time is? 6:30 tonight. So we had to get our kids up, come over here — you already knew who we were playing last night. But we can't get on the court, and neither can the others."
The defending NCAA champion manager went on to question why teams lack input on Women's March Madness scheduling decisions.
"Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, 'Hey, does this work? Do you guys do this during the regular season?'" he said.
He also criticized regional placement and quality concerns. "There's just no concept of how the game is played," Auriemma said of the NCAA's organizing committee.
"What are we doing here about how the tournament's games' quality should measure up to the tournament's sold-out crowds, and the NCAA not putting tournament regional play in the northeast where UConn is located?" he continued.
UConn is chasing its NCAA-record 13th national title, with the championship game taking place April 5th in Phoenix.