Diana Taurasi, UConn legend, is Larry Bird. That’s not just some hot take, that’s straight from Jeff Goldberg, the man who covered her up close for the Hartford Courant, and his words are front and center in “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies” docuseries, dropping on Apple TV this Friday, August 21. Goldberg, who also penned “Bird at the Buzzer” and “Unrivaled,” sat down with Swish Appeal ahead of the global release to spill some truth bombs about the series and why it matters so much.
Before the Dynasty: Shot Putters and Track Meets
This docuseries goes deep, all the way back to 1985 when Geno Auriemma first took the head coaching gig in Storrs. We’re talking about a time when UConn women’s basketball was a world away from what we know now. The four years *before* Auriemma? A rough 35-74 record in the NCAA era. And get this: they shared a fieldhouse with the track and field team. Goldberg himself needed a refresher on these wild details, like the netting they had to put up to stop shot putters from hitting the court, or athletes just running laps around the track during basketball games. Seriously? That’s the foundation of a dynasty, and it’s exactly why “The Dynasty” docuseries was made: to tell the whole, gritty story of how they climbed from that.
Witnessing Greatness: From Two Rings to Five
Goldberg was there for some of the most crucial years of Auriemma’s program, covering 2001-02 to 2005-06. He watched as the national championship total exploded from two to five. When he wrapped up his beat coverage, UConn was neck-and-neck with the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, who had six titles. He saw firsthand the evolution, and his perspective on things like the Auriemma-Pat Summitt relationship, what it was like watching Sue Bird and Taurasi together in 2002, and the Huskies’ mindset when they didn’t win it all, are all part of this series. But let’s get back to Taurasi, because Goldberg’s take is legendary. He admitted his bias, seeing almost all her games, but growing up in Connecticut with Larry Bird as his hero, the comparison was unavoidable. Goldberg says she shot like Bird, had Bird’s range, that insane passing, even the trash-talking! She was as clutch as any player he ever saw, embodying everything about Larry Bird. And the kicker? Taurasi, being from Chino, CA, actually loved Magic Johnson. Goldberg used to goof on her, saying, “No no no, Larry. Your favorite player should be Larry.” That’s high praise, folks, putting her in a class above names like Maya Moore, Breanna Stewart, Paige Bueckers, and Rebecca Lobo.
So mark your calendars for Friday, August 21, because “The Dynasty: UConn Huskies” is dropping, and it’s going to redefine how we look at one of college basketball’s most incredible runs. Get ready to learn the full story, from shot putters to the GOAT, Diana Taurasi.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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