Geno Auriemma Playfully Roasts Paige Bueckers After Championship Win

STORRS, Conn. — UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma humorously reminded star guard Paige Bueckers of her limited championship status just hours after her team clinched the NCAA title. Bueckers secured the victory in a dominant performance against the defending champion South Carolina Gamecocks last Sunday, marking Auriemma’s 12th national championship as a head coach.

During a gathering of former players to celebrate the championship, Auriemma’s lighthearted banter brought laughs and nostalgia. “Oh what, you got one [championship], so you think you can be down here now?” he jokingly quipped to Bueckers, who was adorned with her championship hat and a piece of the net draped around her neck.

The moment was recounted by UConn legend Rebecca Lobo on the podcast “Good Game with Sarah Spain.” Lobo recalled how Bueckers approached the former players only to be directed by Auriemma to sit next to her, emphasizing their shared experience of having won just one championship.

“And remember, this is just a couple hours after we saw Geno crying and hugging her and telling her he loves her,” Lobo shared. “And he looks at Paige and he points at me and he said, ‘go sit next to her, you guys only have one [championship] in common.’”

Auriemma’s playful ribbing is a tradition among the tightly-knit Huskies family and is seen as a form of camaraderie among the players. Former UConn standout Breanna Stewart, who has four championships, and Jessica Moore, a three-time champion, were also present during the roast.

“That’s who he is, you know?” Lobo remarked about Auriemma. “I felt like I was in a time warp. Like, 30 years ago it was me he was giving crap to. [That night], it’s Paige.”

With Bueckers expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, she has the potential to add to her championship legacy in her professional career. The lighthearted moment serves as a reminder of the competitive spirit ingrained in UConn’s culture and the mentorship Auriemma provides to his players.