A good sports documentary can help you see a player, coach, or an organization in an entirely new way. In recent memory, Rafael Nadal’s documentary, “Rafa”, made a massive impression on us when it comes to sports documentaries. So, when Apple announced the documentary about UConn’s women’s basketball dynasty, we were locked in.

The University of Connecticut Huskies are the greatest women’s college basketball team in history. They have an incredible 12 NCAA titles in the tournament’s 44-year history, including six titles with 0 losses. It was that kind of success that made us excited for the documentary. After watching, here are our key takeaways from The Dynasty: UConn Huskies.

Geno Auriemma’s Coaching Style is a Dying Art

Geno Auriemma is an old-school kind of coach who values hard work and dedication over raw talent. And that is not to say that he doesn’t value talent. In fact, some of the most talented women’s basketball players in history, like Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, and Azzi Fudd, have played for UConn. But Auriemma puts his players through the wringer. As they say in the documentary, he doesn’t treat them like girls; he treats them like soldiers.

He can be brash, critical, and even cruel at times. But you cannot argue with success. He has been the Huskies’ head coach for over forty years, and in that time, he has built the program up from nothing. When he arrived at UConn, the women’s team didn’t even have locker rooms. Now, the Huskies are the most successful team in history. That being said, one of our key takeaways from The Dynasty: UConn Huskies is that his coaching style is a dying art. Fewer and fewer coaches use those methods, and because of the transfer portal, fewer players are willing to accept them.

Choosing the Right Players is Key

One of our key takeaways from The Dynasty: UConn Huskies is that choosing the right players is key. It isn’t just about choosing the highest-ranked recruits, like Paige Bueckers, out of high school. No, Auriemma and his team, especially associate head coach Chris Daily, look for much more than pure talent. They look for players who are committed to the team, who don’t play for their own glory, and most importantly, who are willing to accept criticism.

As we’ve seen, the UConn Huskies achieve incredible success through painstaking hard work and sacrifices. Players are expected to grow and develop their skill sets, their leadership abilities, and their accountability. As Auriemma puts it in the documentary, players in his program are helping coach the team by the time they become seniors. That is why the Husky alumni have commendable success when they go pro. From seven #1 picks in the WNBA draft to multiple WNBA titles and Olympic Gold medal winners, the Huskies ball out.

UConn Helped Build Up Women’s Basketball

Women’s basketball has been on an upward trajectory for a while now. From the WNBA’s popularity to A’ja Wilson’s signature Nike shoes, women’s basketball is firing on all cylinders. We’d be remiss not to remark on women’s college basketball, especially UConn’s influence on that success. The 2024-25 NCAA Championship game between the UConn Huskies and the South Carolina Gamecocks drew in an average of 9.8 million viewers.

That season’s NCAA tournament was the third-most watched on record, according to Nielsen. But we have to go way further back in history to understand UConn’s impact. When Auriemma began building a title contender, the dominant force in women’s basketball was the Tennessee Lady Vols. Pat Summit’s team had been practically without a real opponent for years. The clashes between these two teams, both in the regular season and in the playoffs, gave us some of the greatest basketball moments ever. Last-minute buzzer beaters, on-court fights, and even press conference barbs between the coaches.

One of our key takeaways from The Dynasty: UConn Huskies is that women’s basketball wouldn’t be what it is without this rivalry.