“Made an a** outta himself”: Caitlin Clark fans demand apology from Geno Auriemma after recent "trash talk" comment

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma is very well-respected in the game. However, he is under fire for comments he recently made about WNBA star Caitlin Clark.

Auriemma appeared on an episode of the "Make A Difference with Phil Martelli" podcast on Nov. 6. He discussed the impact Clark has made on the game of women's basketball after her time with the Iowa Hawkeyes came to a close and she went on to get drafted by the WNBA's Indiana Fever with the first pick of the 2024 draft.

One part had him talk about Clark's trash talk, something that the young star does often due to the intense competition WNBA players have when they play against her.

"I think she talks a lot of s*** and she gets a lot of s*** back. So she deserves everything she gets, because she gives it as good as she gets. She's just not built for the physicality of this league and she's not quick enough to get away from the physicality," Auriemma said.

These comments got the attention of Caitlin Clark fans, criticizing the head coach for not giving the young star proper credit for pushing the game forward and focusing too much on what she does on the court against opponents.

"Gino made an a** outta himself! Glad you’re calling him out," one fan wrote in the comment section of the YouTube video below.

"Geno…. Go sit down. CC sent y’all home with your 5 star loaded teams!!!," a fan posted.

"So I guess Geno thinks Lary Bird was great because of his trash talking and not basketball game and acumen huh? What a freaking clown," one fan said.

"Geno is too arrogant to admit he was wrong, we'll never see that," another wrote.

"Geno the bitter," one fan remarked.

She’s getting cheap shots because she talks s***. Maybe that’s why she talks s***. And why he’s gotta put Paige on every Clark comment is crazy. PAIGE IS NOT CAITLIN, sorry Geno," a fan exclaimed.

Geno Auriemma's history with Caitlin Clark, expectations with UConn this year

Geno Auriemma is no stranger when it comes to facing Caitlin Clark, having encountered her three times from 2021 to 2024. UConn may have the 2-1 edge in the all-time series, but Clark had the last laugh in the third game.

That third game took place in the Final Four of the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Cleveland, Ohio. The game went down to the wire, as Clark led the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 71-69 victory to take down the Huskies and move on to the championship game.

They eventually lost to Dawn Staley's South Carolina squad, but it doesn't take away the fact that Clark got to end her collegiate career on the biggest stage.

Looking to return to the Final Four and go after the NCAA title, Auriemma is appreciative of the fact that women's basketball has taken many steps in the right direction with the young star players that have entered not just college basketball, but the WNBA as well.

Auriemma will hope that his squad can continue that progress with Paige Bueckers having the spotlight as one of the best college players in the sport. The Huskies, ranked second in the nation according to the latest AP Poll, will prepare for their next matchup on the road against No. 15 North Carolina at the Greensboro Colisseum on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m. ET.