Geno Auriemma Blames NCAA for Women's March Madness Issues

UConn coach calls out scheduling, equipment, and lack of fan engagement

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:03pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the action of a women's basketball game, with the court and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant shades of blue, green, and orange, conveying the complex challenges facing the women's tournament.Legendary coach Geno Auriemma's criticisms of the NCAA's handling of the women's tournament expose the ongoing inequities that players and fans face compared to the men's event.Phoenix Today

UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma criticized the NCAA for issues plaguing the women's March Madness tournament, including early morning shootarounds, poor scheduling, and subpar equipment. Auriemma believes the NCAA is not doing enough to improve the overall experience for players and fans compared to the men's tournament.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments highlight longstanding concerns about the NCAA's unequal treatment of the women's tournament compared to the men's. As one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, his criticisms carry significant weight and pressure the NCAA to address these disparities.

The details

Auriemma pointed to poor 3-point shooting percentages across the tournament, which he attributed to teams having to hold early morning shootarounds. He also criticized the decision to hold the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games at only two locations, compared to four separate regions for the men's tournament. Additionally, Auriemma took issue with the NCAA providing brand new baskets and basketballs, arguing that the unfamiliar equipment negatively impacted play.

  • On Friday, the eight teams that played shot 34-for-139 (24.5%) from 3-point range, a significant drop from their 36.4% regular season averages.
  • UConn's shootaround was at 6:20 AM on Friday, while Notre Dame's practice was scheduled for 5:30 PM that evening.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who has won more victories and national championships than any other coach in college basketball history.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA women's basketball team, who has a slightly different perspective on the tournament format changes compared to Auriemma.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, a three-time national champion who advocates for necessary changes to improve the women's tournament experience.

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What they’re saying

“'I'm going to read you some numbers: 4-for-20, 4-for-22, 1-for-17, 5-for-18, 4-for-16, 7-for-26. That's the 3-point shooting yesterday across the country. How many arenas are we going to sell out with that bulls–t?'”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Women's Basketball

“'I understand exactly why we did this at the time. I also think we have to be constantly nimble to go, 'Does this serve our game best now? And is there any small tweaks that would make it run more efficiently?' It's a really hard combination to find. We've been begging for years for maximum coverage.'”

— Cori Close, Head Coach, UCLA Women's Basketball

“'We've done it before. Our performance coach does things that will help our bodies to adjust. They've gone on walks when we got here. And they've gone on walks on days in which we didn't play, just to get their bodies adjusted.'”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Gamecocks Women's Basketball

What’s next

The NCAA will need to address Auriemma's concerns about scheduling, equipment, and fan engagement ahead of the Final Four in order to improve the overall experience for players and spectators.

The takeaway

Geno Auriemma's scathing critique of the NCAA's handling of the women's March Madness tournament highlights the continued inequities between the men's and women's events. As one of the most influential voices in college basketball, Auriemma's demands for change put significant pressure on the NCAA to prioritize improving the student-athlete and fan experience for the women's tournament.