South Carolina was riding on the height of success this season. But now it looks like Geno Auriemma is getting ready to stop them in their tracks. The No. 1 ranked school on the AP women’s basketball list, also the reigning NCAA champions, started the season strong with a couple of victories. But so did Auriemma’s UConn, who is looking for a championship after a string of bad luck with injuries. Even the Gamecocks ‘ Dawn Staley is impressed after the Huskies’ head honcho’s recent big honor.

With UConn’s latest win against FDU, Geno Auriemma became the winningest coach in college basketball history with 1,217 total wins. It came at a time when South Carolina shockingly lost to UCLA in a tense game. Afterward, when a reporter asked coach Staley about the Huskies’ coach’s achievement, she was all praise for him. “I mean Geno and Chris Dailey have been servant leaders in our sport,” Staley said, mentioning UConn’s assistant coach.

“They’ve been the gold standard in college basketball and for someone who o has dedicated their lives to young people and our game, it’s only fitting that they’re the ones that’s holding the throne of being the winningest coaches in our game.” It was a special night as Auriemma and Co. geared up for the feat, with 63 former Huskies present in the audience. And his No. 2 ranked team now has a good chance to grab the first spot over the Gamecocks.

Thanks to South Carolina’s latest loss to the Bruins, which ended their 43-game winning streak after going undefeated all of last season, the Huskies can dethrone the top school on the Associated Press list when the latest polls are released Monday. “This is what we usually do to teams,” coach Staley said after the game. “We were on the receiving end of it.”

As the long-awaited rankings were released yesterday, journalists asked another question—would Staley ever try to match or perhaps surpass Auriemma’s feat? She only laughed in response.

Even undefeated Dawn Staley wouldn’t dream of eclipsing Geno Auriemma

In his 40+ years of coaching career, Geno Auriemma’s overall effect on UConn and college basketball is unparalleled. With 11 championships and 23 Final Four appearances, his 1200+ wins will only increase. As former Huskies player Rebecca Lobo said on the day, this feat was achieved, no one has ever done this before and probably will never do it again. Dawn Staley agrees.

With 617 wins as a NCAA Division I head coach, the Gamecocks head hog is more than a little away from touching Auriemma’s numbers. And given, the winningest coach has had more time to establish this reputation. But even if given an equal amount of time, Staley said, “I will never break that record. I might break the record to getting out quicker.”

What Geno Auriemma and Chris Dailey are doing is a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. But can the UConn Huskies finally top this season with the perfect crowning glory – an NCAA championship? It’s possibly Paige Bueckers last season, and Azzi Fudd is finally back. Will this be the year?