The Connecticut Huskies recently delivered a commanding performance in the Final Four, capping it off with an 82-59 national championship win over Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks. The standout trio of Paige Bueckers, Sarah Strong, and Azzi Fudd played pivotal roles in securing the victory.
This triumph marked UConn’s 12th national title under legendary head coach Geno Auriemma an unprecedented feat in Division I college basketball history, across both men’s and women’s programs. Auriemma, who has led the Huskies for four decades, was recently asked on ‘SportsCenter’ about his future in coaching at age 71. His light-hearted response? “How I feel when I wake up tomorrow morning.” He acknowledged the constant speculation surrounding his retirement, noting that while people link his departure to players like Paige, Azzi, or Sarah, the program’s strength lies in always having a star or two to build around.
Eventually, Auriemma admits, the time will come when he feels he’s no longer the right person for the job and when that moment arrives, he hopes to recognize it and pass the torch to someone better suited to lead.
With over 1,250 wins and four decades of dominance, Auriemma isn’t stepping away just yet. Despite losing star guard Paige Bueckers expected to be the No. 1 pick in the April 14 WNBA Draft he will return Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, keeping UConn firmly in the title conversation. Auriemma’s legacy is already secure, but his passion for coaching continues to drive him forward.
Be the first to comment