Geno Auriemma says something he should not have during live ESPN broadcast
Geno Auriemma says something he should not have during live ESPN broadcast
Sahil KurupThu, July 9, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC
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Geno Auriemma made an accidental slip on the broadcast -Credit:Getty
Legendary UConn women's basketball coach found himself at the center of a viral moment Tuesday night after slipping up on air during ESPN's broadcast of the Dallas Wings' 88-77 win over the New York Liberty, referencing a fan nickname tied to two of his former players' romantic relationship.
Auriemma joined the broadcast alongside Robin Roberts and Beth Mowins as part of the WNBA's celebration of its 30th season, a fitting pairing given that Auriemma and Roberts called the league's very first game together back in June 1997.
The matchup carried extra significance for Auriemma, who had the chance to call a game featuring three of his former UConn stars: Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Breanna Stewart. Meanwhile, Auriemma also spoke on the recent league-wide treatment towards Caitlin Clark.
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The moment came late in the second quarter as Auriemma attempted to praise Wings forward Jessica Shepard for setting up her teammates.
"Oh, Azzi will get 20 — Pazzi — Paige will get this, Paige will get that," Auriemma said on the broadcast, before continuing to credit Shepard's playmaking.
"Pazzi" is a nickname coined by fans that combines Bueckers' and Fudd's first names, used to refer to the pair both during their time as college teammates and after they went public with their relationship in the summer of 2025.
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The slip stood out in part because Bueckers and Fudd have both been notably private about their relationship since becoming teammates again with the Wings this season after Dallas selected Fudd with the No. 1 overall pick in April's WNBA Draft.
At Wings media day in April, Bueckers directly addressed questions about the relationship, making clear she did not wish to discuss it further.
"I believe me and Azzi's personal relationship is nobody's business but our own, and what we choose to share is completely up to us," Bueckers said at the time.
Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd were both drafted No. 1 overall by the Dallas Wings in back-to-back seasons -Credit:Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
She also emphasized that the two have significant experience separating their personal and professional lives.
"We've been doing this for a long time, we have countless reps at it," she said. "So we will continue to use that experience to show up and be professionals, great teammates, great leaders, the hardest workers."
On the court, the Wings picked up the win behind a strong all-around performance. Bueckers finished with 15 points, six assists, seven rebounds and two blocks, while Fudd added 12 points, three assists and two steals.
Shepard, however, was the standout, recording her third triple-double of the season with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Stewart led all scorers with 29 points in the losing effort for New York.
Source: “AOL Sports”
