UConn's Geno Auriemma Slams NCAA Over March Madness Decisions

Legendary coach criticizes tournament scheduling, attendance, and equipment issues

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:49pm

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UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma unleashed a scathing critique of the NCAA's handling of the women's March Madness tournament, citing issues with early morning shootarounds, limited practice times, low attendance numbers, and concerns over the basketballs and rims used in the games.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments shine a light on the ongoing challenges the NCAA faces in promoting and supporting the women's game, which has long struggled for equal treatment and resources compared to the men's tournament. His criticisms could put pressure on the NCAA to re-evaluate its policies and make improvements for future women's tournaments.

The details

In a lengthy press conference rant, Auriemma pointed to poor shooting percentages in recent tournament games, suggesting the NCAA's scheduling and logistical decisions were negatively impacting player performance. He questioned why teams were being forced to hold early morning shootarounds and have limited practice times at the arenas, arguing the NCAA was not considering the needs of the coaches and players. Auriemma also criticized the low attendance numbers across the regional tournaments, noting the total was only around 18,000 fans. Additionally, he raised concerns that the use of new basketballs and rims for the tournament games could be affecting shooting accuracy.

  • UConn defeated North Carolina to advance to the next round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament on March 27, 2026.
  • Notre Dame achieved an upset win over a higher-seeded team thanks to a historic triple-double performance from Hannah Hidalgo on March 27, 2026.
  • Auriemma's press conference remarks came before UConn's upcoming matchup against Notre Dame on March 28, 2026.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The legendary head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, known for his outspoken criticism of the NCAA and advocacy for the women's game.

Hannah Hidalgo

The Notre Dame player who recorded a historic triple-double in her team's upset win in the NCAA tournament.

Felisha Legette-Jack

The head coach of the Syracuse Orange women's basketball team, who also recently criticized the NCAA for repeatedly scheduling her team to play against UConn in the tournament.

Rick Pitino

The head coach of the St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team, who took issue with the NCAA's handling of postgame interviews after his team's loss to Duke in the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“How many arenas we gonna sell out with that bulls***?”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

“Does anybody who makes these decisions ever ask the players and the coaches, 'Hey, does this work?' Do you guys do this during the regular season? Is this normal?”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

“If you had four regions and we had a minimum of 5,000 people...I think that comes out to 20,000. So what are we doing here?”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

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

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

What’s next

The NCAA will likely face increased scrutiny and pressure to address the concerns raised by Auriemma and other coaches about the women's tournament. Potential changes could include adjusting scheduling, improving arena conditions, and ensuring the proper equipment is used for games.

The takeaway

Auriemma's outspoken criticism of the NCAA's handling of the women's March Madness tournament highlights the ongoing challenges the governing body faces in providing equitable treatment and resources for the women's game. His comments could spur the NCAA to re-evaluate its policies and make meaningful improvements to enhance the player and fan experience for future women's tournaments.