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Former UConn star Sue Bird and her wife, ex-football star Megan Rapinoe, slammed Bird’s former coach Geno Auriemma after he got into a shouting match with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley following their Final Four bout.
Rapinoe said coach put “all of you in a very difficult situation.”
“Look, I think what coach Auriemma did last night was obviously wrong and disappointing,” Bird said on his and Rapinoe’s podcast before praising the coach for apologizing pretty quickly.
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Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinal game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, April 3, 2026. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
“We’re so used to him speaking his mind in these moments, especially in a press conference, that this seemed unusual to us on some level. But I’m glad he made a statement and apologized.”
Rapinoe went further, saying that because Auriemma is an important presence as a white man in a “predominantly black space,” “how he represents himself is important.”
“No matter the growth, investment and success, women’s basketball sits at the intersection of gender, race, sexuality and diversity. Because of who he is in this sport – and he absolutely deserves respect for his success – how he presents himself is important,” Rapinoe said.
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)
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“It’s important that he recognizes the South Carolina players and says, ‘You beat me.’ It is important that he presents himself in front of his staff, his players, Dawn Staley and his team. Not being there at that time did not honor the space he was given. He didn’t show that respect in return, and I think that’s what touched people.
“As a very successful white figure in this space, there is an added responsibility to lead by example when it comes to allyship and game management. He missed the mark on that. He apologized, which is important, and I hope he continues to take responsibility and make amends.”
Auriemma said after the game he was upset. Staley had not shaken his hand before the match (the two were seen shaking hands before the match, but Auriemma said he waited several minutes before seeing Staley).
“There is no excuse for the way I handled the end of the South Carolina game,” Auriemma said in a statement posted on social media.
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)
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“This is unlike what I do and our standards here at Connecticut. 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 detract from that. I have had a great relationship with their staff and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
South Carolina ended up losing to UCLA in the national championship.
