The worst conclusions you could draw from Geno Auriemma’s behavior in the past have been confirmed. Tennessee Lady Vols legend Candace Parker was able to reveal the type of person he is based on a conversation she recently had about Team USA.
Speaking with Taylor Rooks of The Bleacher Report, Parker admitted that she doesn’t like Auriemma and Auriemma doesn’t like her. Of course, the two have plenty of history dating back to Parker’s days playing in college.
It was during the Candace Parker era that Pat Summitt decided to end the series with the UConn Huskies. Eight years after she left the Tennessee Lady Vols, though, Parker was mysteriously cut from the U.S. Olympic team in 2016 despite leading them to gold medals in 2008 and 2012. Here’s her description of that team and her relationship with Auriemma.
FULL CLIP: Candace Parker speaks about not having a relationship with USA Basketball, dislike between her and Geno Auriemma , and the @nnekaogwumike snub
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) December 1, 2021
“I don’t like him, he doesn’t like me. We don’t like each other..” pic.twitter.com/3Z828ffarQ
A couple of parts of that conversation truly expose the type of person Auriemma was. The most standout part is her saying she had a triple-double at the Team USA camp and was first or second on the court in scoring but was still left off the team. With those numbers it would have made no sense for Auriemma to cut her from the team.
One of two things is true. Either Parker is lying, which would be extremely bold, or Auriemma had a personal reason for leaving her off the team. Given the respect the rest of the WNBA has for Parker, this was clearly not an Isiah Thomas situation, so it would be about Auriemma.
What’s the most likely answer, then? Well, the most likely answer is Auriemma had some sort of personal vendetta against Parker and used that to keep her from winning a third straight gold medal. That’s pathetic.
Auriemma often talks about the “character” of his players and carries himself as somebody above the fray. However, he appears to have purposely robbed Parker of a chance at a third gold medal solely due to a personal vendetta against her.
Such a move is petty beyond even Michael Jordan’s level. It also reveals Auriemma to be a fraud given what he preaches. A player who was about to lead her team to a WNBA Championship and was three years removed from winning MVP should have easily made that team.
Beyond the connection to the Summitt era and Auriemma’s personal feelings, Parker revealing they don’t like each other takes it to another level. Then there’s what happened on the court, and it’s possible Auriemma takes that personal.
When the Lady Vols had Parker, they beat UConn every time. Her presence was a huge reason for that, and it’s definitely possible Auriemma resents her going to Rocky Top. That’s the only explanation right now, and it’s an awful look for Auriemma.
Of course, his defenders will say he did take her on the 2012 team. However, nobody could have left Parker off that team. She had already won an MVP and was in the prime of her career. Auriemma had cover in 2016 to suggest she was past her prime.
That’s been proven false time and time again. Since that Olympic season, Candace Parker has become a two-time WNBA Champion, a WNBA Finals MVP and won a WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. It’s clear Auriemma was just being petty, and that’s flat-out embarrassing on his end.