“Stop b*tching at them”: Geno Auriemma expresses how “greatest women’s basketball player”Diana Taurasi made him a better coach
In an episode of "What Drives Winning" released on Sunday, UConn coach Geno Auriemma discussed how he coaches now versus before. In the episode entitled "The Psychology of Feedback," Auriemma went in-depth on how he always used to scold his players for even the smallest mistakes but has become more reserved now to conserve team morale.
One of the players who went through his emotion-filled phase is WNBA legend Diana Taurasi. But Auriemma noted that what made her so special also helped him become a better coach.
"This is why Diana Taurasi is the greatest women's basketball player that's ever played," (16:05) he proclaimed before detailing, "Because when she wasn't in the game at UConn, during a timeout, she would sit right here on the floor. As I start talking, she would be like this."
Auriemma then went on to point at the floor by his shoe and subsequently tap his lap repeatedly before sharing:
"'Let's go. What are we gonna do?' Always trying to get me on point with (the team, saying,) 'Tell them what we're going to do. Stop b*tch*ng at them.' She made me a better coach." (16:15)
The statement comes after Geno Auriemma discussed how he merely glanced at current Huskies sensation Paige Bueckers after she committed a mistake whereas it would've been different in times before.
As a whole, the 70-year-old is still dominating the collegiate scene, steering UConn to an 8-0 record thus far in the 2024-2025 campaign. They will go up against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish next in their homecourt on Thursday.
Diana Taurasi pays tribute to Geno Auriemma after record-breaking win
During their time together at UConn, Geno Auriemma and Diana Taurasi amassed a rare national championship three-peat from 2002 to 2004. Taurasi was also named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player twice in 2003 and 2004.
In one of the speeches after Auriemma's NCAA record 1,217th victory weeks ago, Taurasi shared how much she has learned from Auriemma and as well as associate coaches Chris Dailey and Jamelle Elliot.
"You told me all the things I needed to hear to make me a better person, a better teammate, a better basketball player. All those little things, day by day, week by week, month by month, you start building this confidence that you could be a better person every single day," Taurasi said on the microphone. (7:10)
With standouts such as Paige Bueckers and freshman Sarah Strong on the rise, Geno Auriemma's long list of alumnae will continue to prosper with immense talent.