The UConn were riding high this season with an unbeaten streak, but then they locked horns against Notre Dame on Thursday night. The Fighting Irish didn’t only give Geno Auriemma’s team their first defeat of the season but also made them trail with the biggest deficit. Now, since the No.8 team has broken the No.2 ranked UConn’s streak, they are raising that it’s time for Auriemma to leave the office. But, is it too much?

From the very start of the game, UConn has struggled to find their rhythm, allowing Notre Dame to build an 11-point lead by halftime. The Huskies appeared disjointed, lacking the collective effort and Auriemma’s strategies didn’t seem to have an answer for Niele Ivey’s well-coached squad, leaving UConn searching for solutions as the game progressed.

However, they did try to make a comeback in the third quarter. The white and blues narrowed down the lead to 4 points and entered the final one with the momentum in hand. However, Notre Dame’s solidified efforts in offense and defense led them to regaining the lead and UConn saw itself losing the game by 79-68. Paige Bueckers was UConn’s top scorer with 25 points but it was not enough to make them better still.

UConn did make an effort to turn the game around in the third quarter, cutting Notre Dame’s lead down to just four points and carrying some momentum into the final period. However, Notre Dame’s strong offensive and defensive play still proved too much for the Huskies to handle. Despite a standout performance from Paige Bueckers, who scored 25 points, UConn couldn’t capitalize on their momentum, ultimately losing the game 79-68.

Auriemma, himself acknowledged how challenging it is to mount a comeback, saying, “Clawing your way back takes so much life out of you…” Despite UConn’s best efforts to rally, Notre Dame’s solid performance across the board kept them in control, ultimately handing UConn their first loss of the season and ending their unbeaten streak.

The defeat surprised fans, given UConn’s impressive form, and led to a flurry of reactions on social media. Some even began questioning whether it might be time for Auriemma to step down.

Is it time for Geno Auriemma to step down? UConn’s first loss sparks retirement speculation

Geno Auriemma has been at the helm of UConn since 1985, marking his 40th season with the program. During his illustrious career, he has led the team to 11 championships, with the most recent title coming in 2016. However, since then, UConn has faced an eight-year title drought. This season started with high hopes, as the team remained unbeaten through eight games, but Notre Dame’s recent victory over them served as a harsh reminder of the challenges ahead still.

This loss has sparked speculation among some fans, with whispers that after decades of success at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Auriemma should consider stepping down from his role as the head coach.“Geno might need to retire! every dog has its day” & “Geno need to gone and retire. Let’s wrap it up!!”

Over the past eight years, UConn’s roster has seen numerous changes, with rising stars coming and going. This season marks Paige Bueckers’ fourth year with the team, and she’s considered a top prospect for the 2025 WNBA Draft. Given the team’s shifting dynamics, one fan suggested that instead of making roster changes, it might be time for Auriemma to retire and pass the torch to someone new. “so who on uconn needs to transfer? or maybe geno should just retire 🤷🏾‍♀️”

UConn’s opponents, Notre Dame, are led by 47-year-old Niele Ivey, who has far less coaching experience than Auriemma’s 40 years at UConn. Ivey took over the Fighting Irish in 2020, yet her team managed to easily defeat Auriemma’s UConn. One fan expressed surprise at this outcome, suggesting that it could be a sign that Auriemma might consider retiring. “my momma played against geno auriemma, dude needs to retire frl 😭😭”

Notre Dame’s roster features talented players like Hannah Hidalgo, Liatu King, and Olivia Miles, who collectively delivered a strong performance to defeat the Huskies. In contrast, UConn seemed overly reliant on Paige Bueckers, despite having promising freshmen like Sarah Strong, Kaitlyn Chen, and Ashlynn Shade on the roster. One fan expressed that Auriemma may be struggling to coach a team with comparable talent to their opponents, suggesting that perhaps things are different than they used to be. “Geno Auriemma doesn’t know how to coach against teams with the same level of talent as he has. Oh how the times have changed.”

While it’s still early in the season and this was Auriemma’s first loss, there’s plenty of time for him to turn things around. If he can shift the fans’ sentiments in his favor, the team’s future matchups will offer more clarity. Up next, UConn faces Georgetown on Sunday, December 15!