{"id":698974,"date":"2026-04-05T03:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698974\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T03:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T03:20:18","slug":"geno-auriemma-apologizes-for-exchange-with-dawn-staley-after-uconn-womens-basketball-loss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698974\/","title":{"rendered":"Geno Auriemma apologizes for exchange with Dawn Staley after UConn women’s basketball loss"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions during a heated exchange<\/a> with Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskies\u2019 loss to South Carolina in the women\u2019s Final Four.<\/p>\n

A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina\u2019s 62-48 victory<\/a> on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It\u2019s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,\u201d the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. \u201cI want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don\u2019t want my actions to detract from that. I\u2019ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staley said Saturday morning she was focused on the title game against UCLA on Sunday and not what happened a night earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, no distractions at this time. I\u2019m concentrating on winning a national championship, that\u2019s it,\u201d Staley said. \u201cThat\u2019s a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Staley added that she would address the issue at a later point.<\/p>\n

After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea,\u201d the South Carolina coach said after the game. \u201cBut I\u2019m going to let you know this: I\u2019m of integrity. I\u2019m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn\u2019t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn\u2019t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the NCAA\u2019s policy in its operations manual for the tournament, after starting lineups are announced for both teams, the two coaches are directed to meet at midcourt and shake hands. Staley and Auriemma shook hands earlier in the pregame, but not after introductions, which irked Auriemma.<\/p>\n

Geno Auriemma said he and Dawn Staley don\u2019t have a relationship, only describing them as rivals. \u201cNah, not really. We don\u2019t have a lot in common.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/sxbQS2s2tD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kareem Copeland (@kareemcopeland) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The women\u2019s basketball committee always reviews issues that arise in the tournament after it concludes, the NCAA said.<\/p>\n

South Carolina advanced to play UCLA in Sunday\u2019s title game. The Gamecocks are seeking their third championship in five seasons.<\/p>\n

UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other in each of the next two seasons, with the first game in Connecticut.<\/p>\n