Sue Bird makes her feelings clear on rumors of Geno Auriemma quitting UConn: "He literally built this"

WNBA legend and four-time champion Sue Bird expressed her thoughts about the rumors that longtime UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma is leaving.

In a video uploaded on the SportsNet New York (SNY) YouTube account, Bird sat down with the TV network to discuss Auriemma's supposed exit from UConn.

"I remember there was a rumor that he was getting looked at for a men's coaching job," Bird said (0:50).

Auriemma recalled several instances when he was supposed to leave Storrs, but for some apparent reason, it did not materialize. He has been at the helm since 1985 and will mark his 40th year with UConn in 2025.

"I was at a place for a couple days," Auriemma explained (0:56 onwards). "When I got on the plane to leave, I was done at Connecticut. And when I landed, I wasn't. That's how close."

The 70-year-old coach shared another time when another deal was already in place.

"There was another time where I had to let them know by midnight," Auriemma recalled (1:12). "There was a done deal. And my daughter lost her mind. It was about 5 to 12 or quarter to 12, and I had to make the phone call that I can't do it. That's how close."

Bird, a five-time Olympic gold medalist, shared her feelings about the instances that her coach might leave. She hinted at her coach's possible thought process, as Auriemma "built" the program according to her.

"I'd imagine a big part of it is like ‘I built this. Why wouldn't I want to see this through my whole career?’" Bird said (Timestamp: 1:28). "Like what are we really leaving for? And so I think there's a sense of like ownership. He literally built this."

Sue Bird and Geno Auriemma spent four years together at the University of Connecticut from 1998 to 2002. They assembled multiple great runs, culminating in two NCAA championships, including an undefeated campaign in 2002.

The video uploaded is the third part of a special SNY series, "Geno & CD: 40 Years of Excellence." The series pays tribute to Auriemma and associate head coach Chris Dailey. SNY covers New York sports, including the UConn women's basketball program.

Sue Bird paid tribute to Geno Auriemma on historic feat

Sue Bird honored her collegiate coach with the UConn Huskies, Geno Auriemma, as he surpassed Tara VanDerveer as the record-holder for most wins in college basketball. The 13-time WNBA All-Star posted a throwback photo with her Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach.

"Takes you through the worst to bring out your best. Salute to the new NCAA D1 Basketball Winningest Coach!" Bird wrote in the caption.

Auriemma reached the milestone when he recorded his 1217th win on Nov. 20 as the Huskies defeated Fairleigh Dickinson. Aside from being the all-time winningest college basketball coach, Geno Auriemma has led UConn to unparalleled success in four decades at the helm.