$18 million worth Geno Auriemma provides injury updates for UConn stars Morgan Cheli, Caroline Ducharme and Ayanna Patterson
Geno Auriemma is keeping fans updated on his reigning national championship team this offseason. The UConn coach shared roster injury updates with Hearst reporter Maggie Vanoni.
Vanoni posted on X on Monday what Auriemma had to say about his injured players. According to the veteran head coach, Morgan Cheli is not yet back on the floor, but Ayanna Patterson has returned to her full capabilities.
Auriemma, who is worth $18 million as per Celebrity Net Worth, had a positive update on Caroline Ducharme, too, saying she "looks really really really good."
A foot injury kept Cheli out of action since February. The star guard appeared in 24 games off the bench for UConn last season, averaging 2.5 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. She shot 39.1%, including 37.0% from beyond the arc.
Cheli's freshman campaign was cut short when she injured her ankle. After she missed three consecutive games, Auriemma, admitted that she wasn't healing as he had hoped.
“Her ankle is not responding the way we hoped it would respond,” Auriemma said.
Several days later, it was announced that Cheli had surgery to repair her ankle and was expected to have a full recovery. According to Auriemma's latest update, she has yet to return to action.
Patterson's season also ended with an injury that required surgery. The redshirt sophomore hurt her shoulder in October but was able to work through it. A setback in her recovery ultimately resulted in surgery in December.
The forward suffered season-ending injuries two years in a row, having required knee surgery in the 2023-24 season. After an injury-riddled college career thus far, Patterson seems to be finally healthy.
Ducharme has dealt with a number of head and neck injuries throughout her college career, but Auriemma seems satisfied with how she is currently performing. Auriemma's updates give Huskies fans an idea of how some of the squad's injured players are progressing.
Read more: UConn’s Sarah Strong and KK Arnold gush over teammate Morgan Cheli’s snaps
Geno Auriemma opens up about his motivation to keep coaching
Geno Auriemma is 71 years old but shows no signs of slowing down. He completed his 40th season at UConn and secured a 12th national title. At the Huskies' championship rally, Auriemma reflected on why he continues coaching.
"People ask me, 'Why do you keep coaching?' I keep coaching because I want them to feel, right now, what they feel, because every one of them did that," Auriemma said, pointing to the national championship banners at Gampel Pavilion.
Auriemma is a coaching legend and is committed to continuing to lead the Huskies.