Staley embraces UCLA's Close ahead of title game, then smirks to the crowd after handshake drama

The women's national championship game will not see a repeat of the pregame handshake controversy from the Final Four.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 8:22pm

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In the lead-up to the women's national championship game, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was seen embracing UCLA center Lauren Betts, a sign that there will likely be no pregame handshake drama like the one that occurred between Staley and UConn's Geno Auriemma in the Final Four. However, Staley was later spotted smirking to the crowd, hinting that the previous handshake incident may still be on her mind.

Why it matters

The heated exchange between Staley and Auriemma over pregame handshake protocol went viral, becoming a major talking point in the lead-up to the national championship game. Staley's actions before and after the title game suggest that the controversy may still be a source of tension, even if the coaches avoid a repeat confrontation.

The details

In the Final Four, Auriemma confronted Staley over what he viewed as a failure to properly follow pregame handshake protocol. The moment blew up on social media as two of the faces of women's college basketball got into a brief heated exchange in the closing seconds of the Gamecocks' win over the Huskies. Ahead of the title game, Staley was seen embracing UCLA center Lauren Betts, a sign that there would likely be no repeat of the pregame drama. However, Staley was later spotted smirking to the crowd, hinting that the previous handshake incident may still be on her mind.

  • The Final Four game between South Carolina and UConn took place two days ago.
  • The women's national championship game is scheduled for today.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who was involved in the pregame handshake controversy with UConn's Geno Auriemma.

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, who confronted Staley over the pregame handshake protocol in the Final Four game.

Lauren Betts

The center for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, who Staley was seen embracing ahead of the national championship game.

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The takeaway

The pregame handshake controversy between Staley and Auriemma in the Final Four has become a major storyline leading up to the national championship game. While Staley's actions suggest she is trying to avoid a repeat of the drama, her smirk to the crowd indicates the issue may still be on her mind, potentially setting the stage for further tension between the two coaches.