Geno Auriemma has forged champions out of players during their time at UConn, and he will now have the honor to commentate on a few of his former players in real time.

On July 7, the Dallas Wings will visit the New York Liberty, and Auriemma will reunite with Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, 30 seasons after the legendary duo called ESPN’s first-ever WNBA game.

Auriemma has the chance to commentate on the two latest No. 1 overall picks coming out from the Huskies, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd. On the Liberty's side will be 2016's No. 1 overall pick, Breanna Stewart. Safe to say, he is excited for the opportunity to neutrally talk about his former players.

“I happen to have a whole bunch of players in the league that I root for every night. And getting to actually watch live and talk about them. Yeah, I mean, I don't have to coach them. So I can say all the things I've always wanted to say about them. So I'm looking forward to it.” Auriemma said on a media call on Tuesday.

Coming out of UConn, Paige Bueckers is already one of the best players in the league. She won Rookie of the Year honors in 2025 on a struggling Dallas team, which has now found rhythm this season under HC Jose Fernandez.

Meanwhile, Fudd is the highest-earning rookie in WNBA history and has already penned a deal with Project B for the offseason.

Few female athletes are more visible than her and Bueckers, as the latter attended the star-studded Met Gala in May and consistently adds new brand partners to her sponsorship portfolio.

While the Dallas duo is just starting to build their legacy, Auriemma took the pleasure of praising a bona fide icon of the game, whom he previously coached at UConn, Breanna Stewart.

Geno Auriemma Praises Breanna Stewart's Legacy

Apart from being a four-time NCAA champion at UConn, a two-time WNBA MVP, and a three-time WNBA champion with two teams, Auriemma believes what Stewart has done off the court is what will define her legacy when it is all said and done.

Firstly, Stewart played a key role as vice president of the WNBPA in the latest round of the collective bargaining agreement negotiations that led to the league's first million-dollar contracts and comprehensive revenue-sharing models in women's sports.

In addition, she co-founded Unrivaled, a 3-on-3 basketball league that happens during the offseason. It allows players to earn some more playing stateside.

On Tuesday, Auriemma said he is proud of Stewart that she has taken all these roles when she could have just played basketball and "that's it."

He went on to give examples of athletes becoming more renowned after retirement than they were at the peak of their professional careers.

Be it boxer George Foreman's grills, Shaquille O'Neal's multiple business ventures, or Michael Jordan's shoes selling now more than ever.

“But women have never really had that kind of platform and runway to take off and do other things beyond just be excellent on the court," Auriemma said.

"So to have that opportunity and then take advantage of it, I just think it’s groundbreaking. I know there’s a lot of other people, A’ja Wilson is doing the same thing.” He added.

The UConn HC will have this and more to talk about when his former players collide on July 7.

So, will you be tuning in to hear what Geno Auriemma has to say about his former players? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Joy Bassy