Auriemma Dunks on Trump in Olympic Interview

STORRS, CT — Geno Auriemma threw a social, verbal shot over Donald Trump's bow in a Wednesday interview at the Rio Olympics.

It began with a question to the current U.S. Women's coach on whether the U.S. dominance so far is good for the game. In his role as the University of Connecticut women's coach, he gets similar questions in Storrs with 11 national titles under his belt.

His response included a comment on the agenda of the Republican presidential candidate.

"We live in that Trumpian era where it’s OK to be sexist and degrade people that are good, just because they’re the opposite sex," Auriemma said. "We are what we are. We’re never going to apologize for being that good. We’re never going to apologize for setting a standard that other people aspire to achieve."

USA Basketball posted a transcript of the interview on its website. See it here.

Auriemma said the perception is an equal-opportunity situation and threw the same props Michael Phelps' way.

"We got a guy in the pool with a USA swim cap on who nobody can beat. And if he wasn’t in swimming, there would be a lot of other guys with gold medals. So, it is what it is," he said. "The world needs times when such great, great teams or great individuals are doing great things, that other people can talk about and other people say, 'Wow, wouldn’t it be great to be at that level?'

"These are Olympians. They’re supposed to play at a high level. They’re professionals, they’re supposed to put on a show, they’re supposed to entertain. So, what are we supposed to do? Just go out there and win by a little?

"We’re not bad for women’s basketball, just like I say at UConn, we’re not bad for women’s basketball. What’s bad for women’s basketball is when nobody’s great, because then you could say, 'You know what? I don’t think anybody really knows how to play this game.'”

Auriemma also offered an opinion on Canada's Kia Nurse, who plays for him at UConn — "She’s something else, isn’t she?"

And former UConn great and current pro Diana Taurasi — "You know, when you’re really, really good, you don’t have to say anything, other people say it for you."

Photo Credit: USA Basketball