Geno Auriemma Has Blunt Reminder For WNBA Players About Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese

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06/27/2024 09:02 AM

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 08: Head coach Geno Auriemma of the Connecticut Huskies shouts to the players against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the first half during the NCAA Women's Final Four Championship at Bridgestone Arena on April 8, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

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UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma was preaching about Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese while at the Aspen Ideas Festival this week.

Auriemma made it clear that he doesn't view Clark and Reese as the best players in the WNBA. However, their popularity should provide others an opportunity to shine.

That is, of course, if the veterans are willing to let the rookies get most of the attention.

"[Caitlin] and Angel Reese are not the two best players in the WNBA, but they're the two most talked about players in the WNBA right now," Auriemma said. "If you're some of the players… you can moan and groan about why weren't they talking about me when I was here… or you can just appreciate what it is and take advantage of it now."

That's certainly a fair statement from Auriemma, who has been on point with most of his commentary regarding the 2024 rookie class.

Earlier this month, Auriemma told Dan Patrick that Clark was set up for failure because of the Year 1 expectations people had.

"If you're a great college player like Caitlin was, the delusional fan base that follows her disrespected the WNBA players by saying that she's gonna go in that league and tear it apart. ... These people are so disrespectful and so unknowledgeable and so stupid that it gives women's basketball a bad name," Auriemma said, via CBS Sports. "So the kid was set up for failure right from the beginning."

One of Auriemma's former players, Diana Taurasi, will go up against Clark this Sunday in Phoenix. We can't wait to see how that matchup plays out.