UConn coach Geno Auriemma redefines success after national semifinal loss

Geno Auriemma, the head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, is approaching the new season with a revised view on performance expectations after the Huskies lost the national semifinal to South Carolina in April. The team finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 38-1 record and a Final Four appearance, marking the 17th such trip in the last 18 NCAA Tournaments. Despite the high finish, Auriemma noted that the loss revealed deficiencies that the staff had hidden for months while the team remained undefeated.

The coach, who is 72 years old, addressed the media at the Werth Champions Center in Storrs, Connecticut. He acknowledged that the team was 38-0 for much of the season, but his staff questioned whether they could continue to mask weaknesses. "We were 38-0 but we would go to practice every day and our coaching staff would go, 'Do you think we can hide this for one more weekend?' And, unfortunately, we couldn't," Auriemma said. He emphasized that while the loss was disappointing, the players needed to understand that it did not negate the accomplishments of the year.

Auriemma challenged the common narrative that a team of his stature must win the national championship every time it reaches the Final Four. He cited the limited number of teams capable of winning a title in any given year. "So, theoretically, you should maybe expect to win a national championship once every eight years," he said. He argued that the pressure to win consecutively, as the team did from 2013 to 2016, creates an unrealistic standard that leads to frustration when a single game does not go as planned.

The coach drew a parallel to the Philadelphia Phillies and their closer Jhoan Duran, who gave up a three-run home run to Austin Riley in the National League Wild Card Series. Auriemma noted that fans in Philadelphia were critical of Duran for failing to get an out despite a high salary. "The guy is getting $30 million to hit a three-run homer off of him. So what makes you think that one person or one team is entitled to anything?" he asked. He suggested that recognizing the role of luck and opponent capability helps coaches appreciate the wins more deeply.

Auriemma has coached at UConn since 1985 and holds the record for most victories in college basketball history with a mark of 1,288-166. He is under contract through April 2029 with a total base value of $18.7 million. The coach, who turns 73 in March, said he focuses on factors within his control, such as player development and game preparation, rather than the final outcome. "It usually doesn't involve winning more games or getting back to the Final Four or any of that stuff," he said. He added that the challenge of replacing talented players and competing against strong opponents are aspects he can manage directly.

The 2025-26 season featured national player of the year Sarah Strong for the Huskies. Auriemma said he did not spend the entire summer agonizing over the semifinal loss, though he acknowledged that some players did. He described the offseason as typical, with the focus shifting from the previous season's peak to preparing for the next challenge. He noted that the team's body of work remains strong, even if the final result was not a championship.