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UConn coach Geno Auriemma confronted South Carolina’s Dawn Staley moments after the Huskies’ upset loss in last week’s Final Four.
Despite Auriemma’s apology, which did not name Staley, discussion focused on the heated exchanges that took place last Sunday during the national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina.
After the Bruins’ dominant win over the Gamecocks, Staley praised UCLA coach Cori Close as a “really quality” person, a remark that stood in stark contrast to his initial response to Auriemma after their on-court argument.
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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a semifinal game in the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
Staley moved to defuse the situation Tuesday, saying she had spoken with Auriemma and praising her legacy in women’s basketball.
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“I’ve spoken with Geno and I want to be clear: I have a lot of respect for him and what he represents in this game. One moment doesn’t define a career and it doesn’t change the impact he had on the growth of women’s basketball. The level at UConn is what it is because of him, and that’s something this game has benefited from.”
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches the first half of the NCAA women’s basketball championship game against the UCLA Bruins at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 5, 2026. (Ben Salomon/NCAA Photos)
Staley also called for a change in direction, encouraging fans and the broader basketball community to move forward.
“So I’m asking everyone to turn the page. Let’s refocus on what matters most: continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities and moving it forward.
“That’s always been my mission and that’s not changing.”
South Carolina beat UConn 62-48 in the national semifinals last Friday. Auriemma approached Staley for a routine handshake after the game – but the moment escalated and the two had to be separated.
Auriemma initially struck a defiant tone when asked about the exchange, although he later said his behavior was inexcusable.
UConn head coach Geno Auriemma reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college basketball tournament Sweet 16 game against North Carolina in Fort Worth, Texas, March 27, 2026. (Julio Cortés/AP Photo)
“There is no excuse for the way I handled the end of the South Carolina game. It’s unlike what I do and our level here at Connecticut,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement. “I want to apologize to the South Carolina staff and team. My reaction was inappropriate. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to take away from that. I have had a great relationship with their staff and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
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Staley previously said she did not speak with Auriemma after Sunday’s women’s national championship game. She led South Carolina to the national title in 2024 before falling to Auriemma in last year’s championship.
