Geno Auriemma Details UConn's Postseason Challenge

The Huskies are unbeaten this season but Auriemma sees areas that need improvement ahead of March Madness.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The UConn Huskies women's basketball team is undefeated this season with a 26-0 record, but head coach Geno Auriemma is not letting the team's dominant performance ease them into the postseason. Auriemma highlighted areas like offensive rebounding and limiting fouls that the team needs to improve on before the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

As one of the perennial powerhouses in women's college basketball, UConn's performance in the postseason is closely watched. Auriemma's willingness to critically assess his team's weaknesses, even during an unbeaten season, shows his commitment to preparing the Huskies for a deep tournament run.

The details

In their last game against Creighton, the Huskies won 94-44 while shooting a season-high 53.8% from three-point range and forcing 22 turnovers. However, Auriemma was not satisfied, noting the team had just 3 offensive rebounds and 4 second-chance points. He emphasized the need for better effort on the offensive glass, saying his players were "shooting the ball and everybody jogs back on defense" instead of crashing the boards.

  • The Huskies are 26-0 overall and 15-0 in Big East play this season.
  • UConn has won 42 straight games and 53 consecutive Big East regular-season contests.
  • The Huskies face Marquette next, followed by games against Villanova, Providence, Georgetown, and St. John's to close out the regular season.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, who has led the program to 11 national championships.

Sarah Strong

A forward for the UConn Huskies women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“This is game number 26 for us. After 26 games, you start to realize this is who we are as a team. There are things that I can fix, and there are things that can't be fixed... my job is to fix what I can and hide what I can't.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies (SI.com)

“In the first half, I went into the locker room and said that we didn't even attempt to get an offensive rebound. We shoot the ball, and everybody jogs back on defense. I said, 'I don't understand. You don't need any talent to be an offensive rebounder. All you need is that when the ball leaves somebody's hand, you automatically put yourself in a position to chase it down.'”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies (SI.com)

What’s next

The Huskies have five more regular-season games to address the issues Auriemma highlighted before the NCAA Tournament begins.

The takeaway

Even during an undefeated season, Geno Auriemma remains focused on improving his team's weaknesses rather than just celebrating their dominant wins. This attention to detail and willingness to critically assess his squad is a big reason why UConn has sustained excellence as a women's basketball powerhouse.