FOX play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson is facing a ton of backlash just before the start of the NCAA Tournament.
On Thursday night, Johnson was calling a Big East men’s tournament game between UConn and Xavier. During the late stages of the second half, Johnson raved about the men’s and women’s basketball teams for UConn.
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Although no one even put Johnson on the spot, he suggested the UConn women’s basketball team would win it all if they were in the WNBA.
“You would never think with the Dukes and the North Carolinas, those kind of teams out there, that the University of Connecticut is literally the cradle for champions with the men and the women,” Johnson said. “The women, it’s not even fair. It’s just not fair! They should put that women’s team in the WNBA. I bet you they’d go to the playoffs. They might even win it!”
Mar 8, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Fox Sports analyst Jim Jackson (left) and play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson during a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Southern California Trojans at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
That remark from Johnson didn’t sit well with WNBA fans. They voiced their displeasure with the charismatic broadcaster on social media.
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“This is incredibly disrespectful,” one fan said. “They’d have no shot against grown women. Be serious.”
“Stop it..with the disrespect of the women of the WNBA,” a second fan wrote.
“They would get throttled every night the physicality in the WNBA would break them mentally and physically,” a social media user declared.
“Lol they’d lose by 50+ every game,” another fan commented.
UConn’s dominance can’t be ignored.
The UConn women’s basketball team is currently the overwhelming favorite (-290) to win the NCAA Tournament this year. That being said, we can’t see the Huskies beating up WNBA teams. The pros just play a more physical brand of basketball.
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While we strongly disagree with Johnson’s claim about UConn, we refuse to ignore how dominant Geno Auriemma’s program has been.
Some of the top players in the WNBA, such as Napheesa Collier and Brenna Stewart, became household names due to their success at UConn. Of course, we can’t forget legends like Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Mar 14, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
