Diana Taurasi and UConn coach Geno Auriemma’s incredible relationship has been well-documented. However, what the basketball world didn’t know was how Taurasi’s mother, Liliana, felt about the legendary coach.
Lilliana had quite the complaint about Auriemma in the former Phoenix Mercury superstar’s three-part docuseries, ‘Taurasi.’ The gripe came during the guard’s formative years when Auriemma would come to observe her games.
Diana Taurasi’s Mom ‘Hated’ Geno Auriemma’s Frequent Pop-By’s
Taurasi’s mother minced no words when it came to describing the feeling of having Auriemma become a regular fixture at the UConn star’s house. “When I met Geno, I would tell Diana, ‘I hate him’. Geno was tireless. Every time I would see his face on the other side of my house, I would say, ‘This man again?”
The general expectation in the Taurasi household was that she would choose UCLA. Taurasi’s sister, Jessika, revealed how her mom and dad were confident that she would pick her hometown bigwigs, which included USC.
“Deep down, my mom and dad always thought Diana would stay close, because they knew she could pick wherever she wanted to go. And they always thought, ‘Oh, she’ll go to UCLA or USC,’ she will stay local so that mom and dad can come watch her and we can go see her games.”
MORE: When NCAA Legend Diana Taurasi Received a Harsh Reality Check After Entering the WNBA With Mercury
However, the three-time WNBA champion picked UConn instead. Taurasi’s father, Mario, added that her mother blamed Auriemma for her daughter’s decision. “Always in her mind, she wanted to go to Connecticut. She would never tell us until the last day, when she told us, ‘Papi, I am going to Connecticut,’ Lilliana told me. In the end, Geno took her. I hate Geno.'”
Both Taurasi and Auriemma went on to build immensely successful careers. While the electric guard put UConn on the map with three consecutive national titles, Auriemma cemented himself as one of the most successful basketball coaches in the program, guiding the team to 12 championships.
“I’m the best player in the world, and I have to go to a communist country to get paid like a capitalist.”
Taurasi premieres tomorrow on Prime Video. pic.twitter.com/64HU21zoOQ
— Sports on Prime (@SportsonPrime) August 6, 2025
Taurasi called time on her legendary career this summer. She ended her run with three rings, three NCAA titles, six Euroleague championships in a twelve-year-long overseas career, six Olympic Gold medals, one WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA Finals MVP, and three-time Euroleague MVP, making for a scintillating resume.
Where to Watch Diana Taurasi’s Docuseries?
‘Taurasi’, the three-part docuseries on the 42-year-old WNBA icon, is streaming live on Prime Video. The official synopsis reads, “Basketball legend Diana Taurasi shares the inside story of her life and career – with no stone left unturned.”
