Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma got into a heated exchange during the high-octane Final Four showdown between South Carolina and UConn on Friday. In the end, the Gamecocks secured a 62-48 victory, bringing an end to the Huskies’ undefeated run this season.
In a video shared on social media, both coaches can be seen approaching each other for a handshake as the game ended. However, it looks like Auriemma said something to Staley that did not sit well with her.
This developed into a full-blown argument, and the UConn coach had to be pulled away by coaches and other assistants on the sideline.
After the game, Dawn Staley discussed the ugly situation that unfolded, but she had happy tears in her eyes because of the win.
“I had no idea what I did,” Staley said. “I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand in the beginning of the game. I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand. I don’t know what he came with after the game. But, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move one.”
The loss ended UConn’s hopes of becoming back-to-back national champions. Last season, Geno Auriemma and his team defeated the Gamecocks 82-59 in the season finale for their 12th title.
Geno Auriemma was unhappy with the officiating of the Final Four game against Dawn Staley and the Gamecocks
In the third quarter of the game, South Carolina drew six fouls against the Huskies. This irked Geno Auriemma, who went on a scathing rant against the referees during his mid-game interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe.
The long-term UConn coach also called out Dawn Staley for being aggressively verbal on the sidelines.
“There were six fouls called that quarter, all of them against us,” Auriemma said. “And they’ve been beating the s**t out of our guys down the entire game. I’m not making excuses because we haven’t been able to make a shot.”
“But this is ridiculous. Their coach rants and raves on the sidelines and calls the referees some names that you don’t want to hear. And now we got 6-0, and I’ve got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, I didn’t see it. Come on man, this is for the national championship,” he added.
The Gamecocks will face the winner of the Texas vs. UCLA Final Four game in the season finale on Sunday at the Mortgage Matchup Center (Phoenix) at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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