When Geno Auriemma reflected on his special bond with Diana Taurasi: "Even to this day, if I don’t talk to her for three months, it doesn’t matter"

UConn coach Geno Auriemma and ex-Husky Diana Taurasi have a longstanding relationship molded through years of success and complex interpersonal dynamics. Under Auriemma's leadership, Taurasi led UConn to three NCAA championships and became one of the most decorated college basketball players.

During an interview with Graham Bensinger in 2017, Auriemma reflected on developing a tough-love approach with Taurasi to get through to her and challenge her competitive nature.

"From the time I met Diana, she was in high school. From the time we started recruiting her, there was a connection," Geno said (6:58). Her background and my background are so similar, so we understood each other right from the beginning."

"Once you tell somebody, 'I think you’re going to be the best player in the history of college basketball,' and she believes you, then there’s something going on between the two of you that you can’t explain."

"Even to this day, if I don’t talk to her for three months, it doesn’t matter. I know when that phone rings ... we’re right back to where we were."

Taurasi joined UConn in 2000 when Geno Auriemma had won two national titles with the Huskies. Over her four-year career, the Huskies added three more championships as Taurasi won numerous individual accolades including two Naismith awards.

Geno Auriemma's honest critique pushes Diana Taurasi to prove herself

Geno Auriemma knew Taurasi had talent, but he felt she needed to put in the work to reach her full potential. In their first year together, Taurasi's stubborn attitude clashed with Auriemma's approach, leading to confrontations in practice.

After losing to Notre Dame in the 2001 national championship semifinal game, Auriemma delivered a harsh critique on Taurasi that he believed she needed to hear.

"When we got back home [from the Notre Dame defeat], I made a point to tell her, 'We're not gonna win any games next year with you as our leader. Impossible, because you're immature, you don't care enough about the little things, you're undisciplined, and you know what? If you're gonna be our leader, we're gonna suck.' Plain and simple. And she set out to prove me wrong," Auriemma said.

Taurasi averaged 10.9 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game as a freshman, starting in 14 games and helping guide the Huskies to March Madness.

In her sophomore year, she blossomed into a superstar, averaging 14.5 ppg, 5.3 apg and 4.1 rpg, leading UConn to an undefeated season and a national title.