BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) – Just after the United States routed Canada by 40 points, Geno Auriemma and his UConn greats posed for a group photo on the court.
The five former UConn players, who helped the Huskies win 10 of their 11 national championships, received one last rousing ovation from the crowd. A fitting send off for the team from their adoring Connecticut fans.
Auriemma gave those same fans an opportunity to cheer their former stars early on, starting all five. It was virtually the same starting lineup he used in a win over France on Wednesday. The only change was putting Breanna Stewart into the group instead of Elena Delle Donne.
The Hall of Fame coach said it was the right thing to do.
“I hadn’t had the same starting five in any games we played,” he said after the 83-43 victory Friday night. “I thought to myself, I asked Cheryl (Reeve), if you were head coach instead of me, you’d do it, because it’s the right thing to do. She said OK. I’m not going to worry about it and did it. It was fun for the kids and the fans.”