Shortly after the UConn women’s basketball team clinched the national championship on Sunday, star player Paige Bueckers highlighted the often blurred lines between love and hate that exist in relationships with star players and coaches. The decisive victory allowed Huskies coach Geno Auriemma to substitute his starters, including Bueckers. Immediately following the game, Auriemma was interviewed on the court by ESPN’s Holly Rowe, where he shared his thoughts on what he expressed to Bueckers during their embrace. In the subsequent postgame press conference, Bueckers reflected on her feelings while hugging her coach.
Bueckers expressed her gratitude towards Auriemma for shaping her not just as a player, but also as a person. “He told me he loved me, I told him I hated him,” Bueckers said, eliciting laughter from the audience. “But we both love each other even though we hate each other some days.”
“He told me he loved me. I told him I hated him. But we both love each other even though we hate each other some days.”
UConn star Paige Bueckers on what was said between her and coach Geno Auriemma. pic.twitter.com/mu56LpSyY0 https://t.co/eDhaqWSjQv
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Bueckers elaborated, saying, “Every single relationship that I’ve built throughout the years here, you just try to encapsulate it in one hug, for five seconds. But every single person that I went down the line and hugged just meant so much to me and meant so much to the team.”
