In the world of women’s basketball, few names command as much respect as Geno Auriemma. The legendary UConn coach has led his teams to 11 national championships and has helped shape some of the greatest talents the game has ever seen. But even legends can be caught off guard—and that’s exactly what happened when Auriemma got a firsthand look at Caitlin Clark’s jaw-dropping training routine.

Initially, Auriemma had been reserved in his praise for Clark. While he acknowledged her talent, he also questioned how her flashy style would translate at the professional level or against top-tier defenses. His words weren’t malicious—just the cautious analysis of a coach who has seen countless stars come and go. But that analysis didn’t age well.

Recently, a video of Clark’s offseason training went viral, and it wasn’t long before Auriemma was asked about it during a media session. What he saw stunned even him.

“She’s a machine,” Auriemma admitted. “I had my doubts, I really did. But after watching her put in that level of work—wow. She’s something else entirely.”

The video, filmed in an empty gym at 5:30 AM, showed Clark drilling deep three-pointers, executing lightning-fast dribble moves, and hitting fadeaways with Steph Curry-like precision. What really turned heads, though, was the intensity. There were no breaks. No flashy edits. Just pure, relentless effort.

Clark’s coach at Iowa, Lisa Bluder, wasn’t surprised. “That’s who Caitlin is. People see the highlight reels, but they don’t see the 5-hour days in the gym, the missed parties, the ice baths at midnight,” Bluder said. “Now they’re seeing what we’ve known all along.”

After watching the clip, Auriemma spoke with reporters again. “I think I owe her an apology,” he said, half-joking. “If that’s the kind of work she’s putting in consistently, then I don’t care who you’re coaching or what defense you throw at her—she’s going to make you pay.”

Clark responded with class. “Coach Auriemma is a legend. For him to recognize my work means a lot, but at the end of the day, I’m just trying to get better every single day,” she said during a post-practice interview.

Many analysts are now revisiting their early takes on Clark. Once seen as a college star with question marks about her long-term potential, she’s now being viewed as a possible game-changer for the WNBA. Some even believe she could shift the culture of the league much like Michael Jordan did for the NBA in the ’90s.

Former WNBA MVPs like Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi have also taken notice. “She’s different,” said Bird. “You can’t teach that mix of confidence, creativity, and work ethic. She’s going to be a problem—for a long time.”

Social media has exploded in support of Clark. Hashtags like #ClarkWorkEthic and #NextGOAT have been trending, and fans across the country are anxiously awaiting her WNBA debut. Ticket sales for teams rumored to draft her have already surged.

Even UConn players had to admit their coach’s shift in opinion was a big deal. “Coach doesn’t usually change his mind like that,” one player laughed. “So Caitlin must really be doing something special.”

At the end of the day, Auriemma’s reversal speaks volumes—not just about Clark’s talent, but about the power of hard work to silence even the most respected skeptics.