"Sometimes things get heated. We move on," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said after the argument
Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Connecticut Huskies coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley got into a heated argument with seconds left of the women’s Final Four semifinals game on Friday, April 3
- Auriemma refused to shake Staley’s hand after the game was over
- South Carolina’s 62-48 victory snapped UConn’s 54-game winning streak
Connecticut Huskies coach Geno Auriemma got into a screaming match with the South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley near the end of the women’s Final Four semifinals game on Friday, April 3.
Auriemma showed his frustration before the game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix was over when he complained about officiating in an interview with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe.
"There were six fouls called that quarter —all of them against us," Auriemma told Rowe. "And they've been beating the s— out of our guys down there the entire game. I'm not making excuses, 'cause we haven't been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.”
Geno Auriemma exchanged words with Dawn Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina and UConn’s Final Four matchup. pic.twitter.com/S6anlPKqwe
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 4, 2026
"Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referee some names you don't want to hear,” Auriemma continued. “And now we get 6 to 0, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, 'I didn't see it.' Come on, man. It's for a national championship.”
In the game's final seconds, Auriemma, 72, was caught on camera getting into an argument with Staley, 55, leading referees to blow whistles. Auriemma needed to be held back, and assistants tried to break it up, but he continued returning to argue with Staley. The incident delayed the last play of the game, which ended with a 62-48 victory for South Carolina.
After the game, Auriemma did not shake Staley’s hand; instead walking slowly off the court. Players from each team did shake hands.
Credit: C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty
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"I have no idea,” Staley told Rowe after the game when asked what happened between her and Auriemma, reported ESPN. “But I'm going to let you know this, I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did.”
Staley said she guessed Auriemma thought she didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. However, pre-game photos and video show the two coaches shaking hands.
Credit: Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty
"I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn't know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff's hand,” Staley said.
"I don't know what he came with after the game… but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on,” she continued.
The loss snapped UConn’s 54-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks will move on to play against UCLA in the NCAA women’s national championship game on Sunday, April 5.
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