UConn's Final Four run is steeped in Diana Taurasi's legacy

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UConn's Final Four run is steeped in Diana Taurasi's legacy

Cydney Henderson, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Fri, Apr 3, 2026 ·

3 min read

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PHOENIX — UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma had dinner with Diana Taurasi Wednesday night in Phoenix ahead of the Huskies' Final Four matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

"In typical D fashion, she's the story," Auriemma said with a smile, referring to his former player.

The Huskies are staying on Taurasi Way in downtown Phoenix during the Final Four, a street named after the Phoenix Mercury legend who spent her entire 20-year WNBA career in the desert. UConn practiced at Phoenix's Mountain America Performance Center, where Taurasi's name and logo graces the basketball courts.

"Being able to practice at her facility, staying on her road, being in her city, it is incredible," senior guard Azzi Fudd said. "Having someone that you went from looking up to, then meeting them, playing at UConn and knowing that you're a part of this sisterhood. She's a resource and she's someone that we can reach out to and talk to and just look up to and go to for advice that we ever need."

Michigan State's Rashunda Jones (1) walks off the court following a second-round game in the NCAA women's basketball tournament between the Oklahoma Sooners and Michigan State Spartans at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday March 22, 2026.

(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Denae Fritz #5 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts after a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes reacts after a double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)

Forward Hannah Stuelke #45 of the Iowa Hawkeyes hugs her mother after the double overtime loss to the Virginia Cavaliers in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 23, 2026 in Iowa City, Iowa.
(Matthew Holst, Getty Images)

Chance Gray #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes and Kennedy Cambridge #3 sit on the bench as time runs down in the fourth quarter of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament Second Round game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Jerome Schottenstein Center on March 23, 2026 in Columbus, Ohio. Notre Dame defeated Ohio Sate 83-73.
(Kirk Irwin, Getty Images)

Head coach Krista Gerlich of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

Snudda Collins #0 of the Texas Tech Lady Raiders reacts during the second half of a game against the LSU Tigers in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 22, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

Kamy Peppler #1 of the Green Bay Phoenix reacts against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the third quarter during the First Round of the Women's NCAA Tournament at Williams Arena on March 20, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Phoenix 75-58.

(David Berding, Getty Images)

Audi Crooks #55 of the Iowa State Cyclones reacts during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament against the Syracuse Orange at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on March 21, 2026 in Storrs, Connecticut.
(Joe Buglewicz, Getty Images)

The Vermont women's basketball team starters consoled each other as the Caramounts lost to Louisville at the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)

Rhode Island Rams head coach Tammi Reiss gives a hug to Rhode Island Rams guard Sophia Vital (15) in the waning moments of the Rams' loss to Alabama in the 2026 NCAA Women's March Madness basketball tournament at the KFC Yum Center In Louisville, Kentucky, March 21, 2026.
(Matt Stone/Courier Journal)

Comari Mitchell #5 of the Jacksonville Dolphins reacts during the second half of the game against the LSU Tigers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

Bailey Burns #11 of the Jacksonville Dolphins exits the court after the game against the LSU Tigers in first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Pete Maravich Assembly Center on March 20, 2026 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Tyler Kaufman, Getty Images)

All the parallels are extra meaningful to the Huskies, but Auriemma said it's even more special for Taurasi.

"To be here, I know that means a lot to her. I know it means a lot to our players," Auriemma said. "In my mind, (she's) the greatest basketball player to ever play college basketball, and maybe the greatest WNBA player of all time. ... You don't often get a chance to do that, you know?"

Fudd joked that she's "not at that level yet" to receive an invitation to dinner with Auriemma and Taurasi, but she hopes Taurasi comes to watch the Huskies go for their 13th national championship.

"Obviously, it would mean a lot to have success in her city," Fudd added. "To see her pave the way and make all this possible now for us, yeah, it would be incredible."

UConn Huskies forward Sarah Strong, guard Azzi Fudd and head coach Geno Auriemma speak to members of the media during the NCAA Women's Final Four media day at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 2, 2026.

Taurasi isn't the only UConn alum that Auriemma's dined with during the Huskies' 25th Final Four run. He said the team shared a meal with Paige Bueckers, who led the Huskies to a national championship last season.

"We had dinner with Paige (Bueckers) last night and listened to her speak. It reminded me of how much those five years took off of my life, listening to the things that she says," Auriemma said on Thursday, March 27 ahead of their 63-42 Sweet 16 win over No. 4 North Carolina. "The interesting thing is I lived through it with Diana (Taurasi) and they're the only two that put me through that."

Fudd joked that Auriemma is "definitely more mellow since Nika (Mühl) and Paige (Bueckes) left."

"I think (they) caused him a lot of headaches, I'm sure," Fudd joked.

As for if she gives Auriemma trouble, she said, "Never."

Reach USA TODAY National Women's Sports Reporter Cydney Henderson at chenderson@gannett.com and follow her on X at @CydHenderson .

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UConn Final Four in Phoenix honors Diana Taurasi

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