UConn Coach Auriemma Blasts NCAA Over Women's Tournament Format

Legendary coach criticizes scheduling, equipment issues impacting play quality

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:33pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a women's basketball game, with the court and players broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, conveying the chaotic and disjointed nature of the tournament format issues described by Coach Auriemma.Auriemma's critique of the NCAA tournament format highlights the ongoing tensions between coaches, players, and the governing body over logistics that may be impacting the quality of play.Notre Dame Today

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma unleashed a scathing critique of the NCAA's two-site regional format for the women's tournament, citing poor shootaround times, new equipment causing issues, and a significant drop in shooting percentages across the Sweet 16 games.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments shine a light on ongoing tensions between coaches, players, and the NCAA over tournament logistics that may be negatively impacting the quality of play and fan experience at the highest level of women's college basketball.

The details

Auriemma pointed to a litany of problems with the new two-site regional format, including UConn's 6:20 AM shootaround time, Notre Dame's late 5:30 PM practice slot, and the use of new baskets and basketballs that he says are causing players to 'dribble the ball off their feet' and 'miss layups all over the place.' He noted that 3-point shooting percentages across the Sweet 16 games were well below teams' regular season averages.

  • UConn's shootaround was at 6:20 AM ET on Friday.
  • Notre Dame's practice time was scheduled for 5:30 PM ET on Saturday.
  • UConn's practice time was set for 6:30 PM ET on Saturday.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The 72-year-old head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, a 12-time national championship winner.

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What they’re saying

“I just don't understand some of the decisions that are made about our game when we're trying to grow the god---- game. Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the coaches and the players, 'Hey, does this work? Do you guys do this during the regular season? Is this normal?'”

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

“Know what time our shootaround was yesterday? Six twenty (a.m. ET), I think, for half an hour. This morning, I just saw Notre Dame leaving, so they had media this morning. Their practice time is tonight at 5:30. ... You know what time our practice time is? 6:30 tonight.”

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

“I think they bring in new baskets, new basketballs right out of the box. Got people dribbling the ball off their feet. You got people missing layups all over the place. You bounce the ball, and it goes up to the ceiling. There's just no concept of how basketball is played.”

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

What’s next

Auriemma and other coaches will continue to advocate for changes to the tournament format, with the NCAA likely to evaluate the feedback ahead of future events.

The takeaway

Auriemma's scathing critique underscores the ongoing tensions between coaches, players, and the NCAA over tournament logistics that may be negatively impacting the quality of play and fan experience in women's college basketball's premier event.