Geno Auriemma, the legendary UConn women's basketball coach, has once again found himself in elite company, being named to the 2026 Naismith Women's Coach of the Year watch list. This recognition is no surprise for Auriemma, who has previously clinched the award eight times from 1995 to 2017. Joining him on the list are two notable proteges from his coaching tree: Princeton's Carla Berube and Vanderbilt's Shea Ralph, as announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
Last year's honor went to UCLA's Cori Close, adding another layer of competition to this year's race.
Auriemma's Huskies are currently the only unbeaten team in the nation, boasting a stellar 28-0 record. They've held the No. 1 spot in the Associated Press poll since the season's outset. Their recent 83-69 victory over Villanova secured their sixth consecutive Big East regular-season title, positioning them as the top seed for the upcoming conference tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena.
UConn's dominance is nothing short of historic, having claimed either a conference regular season, tournament, or national championship for 33 straight seasons. This latest regular-season title marks their 32nd in the last 38 years, with 25 in the Big East and seven in the American Athletic Conference.
In his 41st season, Auriemma has guided the Huskies to 12 national championships and 24 NCAA Final Four appearances. They're on track for their 37th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
With a remarkable 1,278-165 (.886) record, Auriemma stands atop the all-time wins list. His recent milestone of 500 Big East wins further cements his legacy, a feat unmatched by any other coach.
UConn's stats this season are a testament to their prowess, leading the nation in several categories, including assist-turnover ratio (1.88), assists per game (24.0), field-goal percentage (53.0), and scoring defense (50.5).
Shea Ralph, a former national champion and All-American under Auriemma, is making waves at Vanderbilt. In her fifth season, Ralph has led the Commodores to a 24-3 record and a strong 10-3 in SEC play, trailing only South Carolina. This impressive performance has Vanderbilt ranked No. 5 in the AP poll, their highest since the 2001-02 season.
Meanwhile, Carla Berube has Princeton tied for the Ivy League lead with a 20-3 overall record. Her success continues to reflect the strong foundation built during her time under Auriemma.
The watch list also features other top coaches like Jennie Baranczyk (Oklahoma), Kim Barnes Arico (Michigan), and Dawn Staley (South Carolina), highlighting the depth of talent in women's college basketball coaching today.