“I’m a winner either way”: Geno Auriemma expresses pride for WNBA Final stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier
Geno Auriemma is relaxed for the 2024 WNBA Finals. The UConn coach has the privilege to witness two of his former students going at each other at the highest stage of women's basketball, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier.
So, when Auriemma was asked about his pick from the New York Liberty and Minnesota Lynx, the coach chose diplomacy. Auriemma claimed that regardless of the team lifting the title, he will emerge victorious through his former students.
"I want the games to be great, I want Stewie to play great, I want Napheesa to play great," Auriemma said while speaking to Overtime WBB on UConn's First Night.
"And so far there have been great games, you know, and they both play great. I told the two of them, you know, 'I'm a winner either way, whichever way this thing falls.' So, I'm just really proud of watching two of them go at it," he added.
Geno Auriemma's students, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, are tied (2-2) in the WNBA Finals and battling in Game 5 at the Barclays Center.
Stewart and Collier have averaged a similar stat line of 20+ points, 8+ rebounds, 3+ assists and nearly 2 steals. They've been the best players for their teams in the high-stakes matchups.
Across the first four games, Stewart is averaging 20 ppg, 10 rpg, 3.2 assists, 2.5 spg and 2 blocks per game. She has shot 34% from the field and 28.5% from the 3-point line.
Collier is averaging 18.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 4 spg, 2.7 apg and 1.7 bpg in the same stretch. She is shooting 50.4% from the floor and 41.8% from the 3-point line.
When did Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier play for Geno Auriemma?
Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier played together at UConn Huskies and were part of Geno Auriemma’s incredible four-year championship run from 2013 to 2016.
Stewart averaged 17.6 points and 7.8 rebounds while shooting 53.0% across 152 games with UConn, earning awards like NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Naismith Award, Play of the Year, Wooden Award and several others.
Napheesa Collier joined Geno Auriemma’s crew in Stewart’s last year of college eligibility, gripping the leadership role in her sophomore year. She averaged 16.0 ppg and 8.1 rpg on over 60% shooting.
While she accumulated only one NCAA championship, she was honored with Player of the Year, Katrina McClain, WBCA All-America and several other awards.