Geno Auriemma on playing in a pandemic: “It is about the money. That’s just reality of it”

On Sunday, Baylor head coach Kim Mulkey returned to the sidelines for the first time after contracting COVID-19 in a 75-71 loss to Iowa State. The Bears continued playing without their coach just as college basketball continues to forge ahead through the pandemic.

Mulkey said she’s feeling better in her postgame press conference, though she’s still waiting for her senses of taste and smell to return. At one point, after she was asked if she thought it’s safe to continue playing despite the risks, Mulkey responded by calling out the NCAA:

“The season will continue on. It’s called the almighty dollar,” Mulkey said, according to ESPN. Baylor edited the response out from the press conference video it posted. “The NCAA has to have the almighty dollar from the men’s tournament. The almighty dollar is more important than the health and welfare of me, the players, or anybody else.”

On Monday, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma echoed Mulkey’s sentiments and expanded on the topic: