Geno Auriemma Unleashes NSFW Rant on NCAA Women's Tournament

UConn coach criticizes scheduling, logistics, and shooting woes during Sweet 16 games.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:26pm

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UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma went on an expletive-filled rant criticizing the setup and logistics of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. Auriemma pointed out the poor three-point shooting performances across Friday's Sweet 16 games, wondering how the NCAA could expect to sell out arenas with that level of play. He also complained about the early morning shootaround times and late practice schedules for teams, arguing the NCAA never asks coaches and players if the tournament schedule actually works for them.

Why it matters

Auriemma's comments highlight ongoing frustrations from coaches about the NCAA's handling of the women's tournament, including concerns over the impact of factors like new basketballs and court setups on shooting performance. As one of the most successful coaches in women's basketball history, Auriemma's criticism carries significant weight and could pressure the NCAA to re-evaluate the tournament logistics.

The details

During his pre-game press conference, Auriemma rattled off the three-point shooting percentages from Friday's Sweet 16 games, with teams going 4-for-20, 4-for-22, 1-for-17, 5-for-18, 4-for-16, and 7-for-26 from beyond the arc. He questioned how the NCAA could expect to sell out arenas with that level of poor shooting performance. Auriemma also complained about the early 6 a.m. shootaround times for teams and the late 5:30 p.m. practice slots, arguing the NCAA never consults coaches and players about the workability of the tournament schedule. Additionally, Auriemma criticized the lack of regional sites in the Northeast, noting Philadelphia will host a regional next year but calling for more locations to help grow the women's game.

  • UConn's shootaround was at 6:00 a.m. on March 28, 2026.
  • Notre Dame's practice time was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on March 28, 2026.
  • UConn's practice time was scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on March 28, 2026.

The players

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the sport.

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What they’re saying

“'I'm going read you some numbers, okay? Write them down. 4-for-20, 4-for-22, 1-for-17, 5-for-18, 4-for-16, 7-for-26. That's the three-point shooting yesterday across the country. How many arenas are we going to sell out with that bullshit? Now, maybe it was just a bad day shooting by everybody. These are all teams that average probably 30, over 30, for the season.'”

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

“'Do you want to know the reason for these shooting percentages? 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.'”

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

“'Do you know when the last time they had a regional in the Northeast? Probably because we were the No. 2 seed, and NC State was a 1 seed, and we had to play in Bridgeport. I guess there's one in Philly coming up. That's just a personal pet peeve, because we've gone to the Final Four no matter where the regional was.'”

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

What’s next

The NCAA will likely face increased pressure from coaches and fans to re-evaluate the scheduling and logistics of the women's tournament in the wake of Auriemma's comments. Changes to practice times, regional locations, and basketball equipment could be considered ahead of next year's tournament.

The takeaway

Geno Auriemma's scathing critique of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament highlights the ongoing frustrations many coaches have with the event's setup and scheduling. As one of the sport's most influential figures, Auriemma's comments could spur the NCAA to work more closely with coaches to improve the tournament experience for players and fans alike.