"$50 million to get in, that money goes right to the owners": When Geno Auriemma questioned WNBA expansion for 1 major reason

UConn coach Geno Auriemma questioned the WNBA's expansion move while on a panel with LSU's Kim Mulkey and MSNBC’s Stephanie Ruhle at the Aspen Ideas Festival. In a video of the conversation uploaded on Jun. 27, 2024, on the NBC News YouTube channel, Auriemma argued that adding a new team would benefit owners more than aspiring big league players.

The UConn coach highlighted the difference in roster capacity in the NBA and WNBA and questioned the timing of the expansion. He argued that the men's league had a 15-player roster capacity while the women's league struggled to fill up 11 spots on a team.

"I think, in the NBA, they have like 15-16 guys (on the roster) because they also have guys that they can call up at any time," Geno Auriemma said. "So, you (WNBA) don't even have 12 players on your team, you only have 11." (24:44).

Auriemma suggested increasing roster sizes to help eliminate injury and work-load related concerns within the WNBA. While making his stand clear, he pointed a finger at the financial motivations of the stakeholders involved in the expansion process.

"But now we're going to add another franchise and they're going to have to find 11 or 12 players," Hurley said. "Well, why don't you just add one of those guys to every team? No, because the franchise coming in is paying 50 million to get in and that money goes right to the owners."

The Golden State Valkyries are the latest expansion team in the WNBA. The league plans to add two more teams in 2026 which will mean that 15 teams will compete in the league that year.

Geno Auriemma shares the qualities he wants in his players

Geno Auriemma touched upon the qualities that a player needed to make his UConn Huskies roster in an interview released recently. The Huskies have been in the news in the past for Auriemma's demanding coaching style and tendency to push players.

While existing skill and talent play a huge role, Auriemma said that he wanted players to welcome hard work and challenges.

"People say playing at Connecticut's really hard. It's not really hard to play here. It's not. You just got to play hard," Auriemma said during an interview for a TV show titled Geno & CD: 40 Years of Excellence. (0:50).

Geno Auriemma holds the record for most NCAA titles won and is also the winningest coach in NCAA history (active or retired). He has also prepared players like Diana Taurasi, Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Maya Moore and Rebecca Lobo for their WNBA careers.