UConn's Geno Auriemma Blasts NCAA Over Women's Tournament Conditions

The legendary coach is fed up with the scheduling, equipment, and overall treatment of women's college basketball teams during the NCAA Tournament.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:08pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the chaotic energy of a women's basketball game, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in navy, green, and red overlapping to create a sense of motion and disruption.Geno Auriemma's scathing critique of the NCAA's treatment of women's basketball exposes the deep structural inequities that continue to plague the sport's premier tournament.Storrs Today

Geno Auriemma, the longtime head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, strongly criticized the NCAA over the conditions and scheduling of the women's NCAA Tournament. Auriemma called out the poor 3-point shooting percentages, early morning shootarounds followed by late-night games, mandatory media obligations, and the use of unfamiliar basketballs and rims that he believes are contributing to uncharacteristic mistakes by players.

Why it matters

Auriemma is one of the most respected and influential figures in women's college basketball, so his blunt assessment of the tournament conditions carries significant weight. His comments shine a light on longstanding issues with how the NCAA manages and promotes the women's game, which has struggled to gain the same level of visibility and resources as the men's tournament.

The details

In his postgame press conference, Auriemma rattled off the poor 3-point shooting percentages from the latest round of tournament games, questioning how the NCAA can continue to sell out arenas with that level of play. He took issue with the disruptive scheduling, including early morning shootarounds and late-night games, as well as mandatory media obligations that he believes interfere with team preparation. Auriemma also suggested that the use of new basketballs and rims at the tournament sites is contributing to uncharacteristic mistakes by players, from missed layups to poor ball handling.

  • The comments came after UConn's victory in the 2026 NCAA women's basketball tournament.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The longtime head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who is considered one of the most successful and influential figures in the sport.

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What they’re saying

“How many arenas are we going to sell out with that bull----? Now maybe it's just a bad day shooting by everybody. These are all teams at that average probably 30 (or) over 30 (percent) for the season.”

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

“Does anyone ask the coaches and players if this works?”

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

“I just don't understand some of the decisions that are made about our game when we're trying to grow the G------ game.”

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

What’s next

The NCAA will likely face increased pressure to reevaluate the conditions and scheduling of the women's tournament in the wake of Auriemma's comments, which have drawn widespread attention and support from other coaches and players.

The takeaway

Geno Auriemma's blunt criticism of the NCAA's handling of the women's basketball tournament highlights longstanding issues with the promotion and support of the women's game. His comments underscore the need for the NCAA to engage more closely with coaches and players to improve the tournament experience and create conditions that allow for the highest level of play.