Despite his team cruising to a comfortable lead against Fairleigh Dickinson, UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma wasn’t letting his players off the hook. Known for keeping his squad grounded even during their best performances, the 70-year-old coach wasn’t exactly thrilled with their offensive execution. And while Azzi Fudd made her much-anticipated return to the court, the vibes around her comeback weren’t entirely brimming with confidence either.

“We could get way more aggressive,” he said during halftime. “Get in the passing lane more, speed up a little bit. We’re not shooting the ball great, but we’re getting a lot of open shots.” However, he expressed optimism that, eventually, they’ll fall right. 

Though just 4 3-pointers, the Huskies were leading 45-22 by halftime. That would be 4 points more than the Dickinson Knights’ total score by the end of the night. But the HC’s sky-high expectations come as no surprise, given that every game adds to his legendary career. He was on the brink of becoming the coach with the most wins in NCAA history. And Azzi Fudd’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. After missing nearly an entire season due to an ACL injury, the former No. 1 recruit stepped back into action. 

But along with the team’s offense, she also got the tough-love treatment, having missed 2 3-pointers and tallied 2 out of the free throws. “It’s gonna be difficult… for her,” Auriemma admitted. “You know, how much rehab you do, how much practice you do… playing in a game is completely different.” He did strike a hope, though: “A couple of minutes here, a couple of minutes there—it’ll come back pretty quickly.”

The Storrs-based program’s announcement of the #35’s return showed their excitement about her comeback. They went all out, dropping a cool video on social media featuring a quote Fudd gave at the ESPNW Summit in May. 

“Just knowing that I’m gonna continue to keep working, rolling with the punches,” she said. “I’m gonna put myself in a place where next year, I’m gonna have a great season, and it’s gonna make it all worth it.” Although Fudd was in the spotlight, it wasn’t just her big moment, though. 

The night marks the attendance of 60 alumni, including legends like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, and Maya Moore. They returned to Gampel Pavilion to cheer on their coach as he awaited to create history. 

Geno Auriemma’s record will remain untouched for at least a decade 

This matchup wasn’t just any other; it was a potential history-maker. The 7× WBCA National Coach of the Year was poised to notch his 1,217th career win, surpassing Tara VanDerveer, who retired last season. And with an 85-41 win, in the presence of all his legendary players, Auriemma became the Division I winningest coach of all time. Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, the previous record holder, finished his career in 2022 with 1,202 wins.

Reflecting on his journey, the Huskies HC sounded humbled. “My plan only went as far as one recruiting cycle,” he said earlier this week. “Let’s get a group of players in here… and let’s see where that takes us. At the time, I truly believed that.” 

He credited his success to the support from the school, fanbase, and players over the years. “If any one of those things were not present, I don’t know. I’m here getting ready for a game tomorrow because of all those things, and I’m very fortunate.” He couldn’t help but look back at the fierce rivalry he shared with VanDerveer. “She’s someone I’ve admired for decades, and to go past her—it’s an honor but also bittersweet.” 

Now, younger coaches might aspire to break Auriemma’s record, but realistically, it’ll take at least a decade, even if he stopped coaching today. With his unmatched recruiting, coaching consistency, and eye for talent, it’s safe to say his place atop the leaderboard is secure for the foreseeable future.

So as the crowd erupted in celebration and alumni beamed with pride, one thing was clear: Geno Auriemma’s legacy isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building something untouchable. The winningest coach in NCAA basketball history isn’t just a title; it’s a testament to a career that transformed the game.