Pat Summitt said her relationship with Geno Auriemma was once positive, but it later soured over recruiting disputes and the rivalry got increasingly tense. She also wrote that they both “threw elbows,” and that the situation became more heated after 2000.

What she said

In her book, Summitt said:

  • They “got along well” for years.
  • She became “increasingly upset” with some of UConn’s recruiting tactics.
  • She did not publicly detail the full complaint, saying she used the proper channels instead.
  • Their relationship later improved somewhat, and Auriemma supported her foundation with an immediate donation.

How Auriemma viewed it

Auriemma later described the rivalry as something that became “Geno versus Pat” instead of just Tennessee versus UConn, and he said the tension was no longer only about the teams. He also said Summitt was a defining figure in women’s basketball and credited her with raising the standard.

If you want, I can also give you the exact quote from Summitt’s book in a short, cleaned-up excerpt.