Geno Auriemma Issues Strong Defense of Breanna Stewart's Playoff Prowess

Legendary UConn coach Geno Auriemma has issued a firm warning against underestimating Breanna Stewart's teams during the postseason, asserting that doubters should "Don’t bet on anybody else other than her." Auriemma's remarks came Thursday at Big East Media Day, where he emphasized Stewart's consistent high-level performance when competition intensifies.

Stewart herself echoed this sentiment Friday, stating, "Honestly, I know that I’m the best, and I feel that every time I step on the court. Nobody can do what I do, and just being confident… I’m detaching from judgement." Her impressive career achievements serve as a testament to this confidence.

Auriemma highlighted the distinction between Stewart's regular-season and postseason play. "When you do look at her career, you look back and you realize there’s a regular-season Breanna Stewart and then there’s a postseason Breanna Stewart," he said. "And Breanna Stewart probably plays in the playoffs as good as anybody I’ve ever seen, except maybe [Diana Taurasi] in terms of winning when you have to win, winning in knockout games."

During her time at UConn, Stewart was a key player in one of college basketball's most dominant eras, leading the Huskies to two undefeated seasons and four consecutive NCAA Tournament championships. Her NCAA Tournament record stands at a perfect 23-0.

Stewart's professional accolades include three WNBA championships, four World Cup titles, three EuroLeague championships, and three Olympic gold medals. She recently completed an impressive winning streak, capturing an Unrivaled championship in March, a EuroLeague championship in April, the WNBA Commissioner’s Cup in June, and the FIBA Women’s World Cup title in September.

Auriemma also commented on the New York Liberty's playoff seeding. He noted that their No. 8 seed did not accurately reflect their late-season performance, as the team had the potential to secure a higher seed. "So when they got the eighth seed, I thought, ‘I don’t think that’s right,’ " Auriemma stated.

He drew parallels to Stewart's Olympic performances, where despite external questions, she consistently delivered in crucial moments. "You can’t question that kid during the playoffs when there’s a medal or there’s a trophy that goes to the winner," Auriemma said.

Looking ahead, Auriemma expressed confidence in the Liberty's chances to reach their third WNBA Finals in four years, acknowledging that the path will become more challenging. He also shared his ideal Finals matchup: a potential series between the Liberty and the Golden State Valkyries, which would feature several former UConn players.

When asked to predict the winner of such a series, Auriemma paused thoughtfully before responding, "I have to think on that one."