UCLA Coach Cori Close Addresses Geno Auriemma-Dawn Staley Controversy

Close says she texted with Staley, wants to 'know the real story' behind heated exchange after Final Four game.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:55pm

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Hours before UCLA's national championship game against South Carolina, Bruins coach Cori Close addressed the fallout from the heated postgame exchange between UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks' Final Four win. Close said she and Staley had texted briefly, and that in 'a couple weeks' she'd 'love to know the real story' behind the incident.

Why it matters

The Auriemma-Staley moment became a major talking point after South Carolina's win, with Auriemma later issuing a public apology. As the coach on the other sideline for the championship game, Close's comments provide insight into how she is handling the situation, balancing honesty, respect for Staley, and the reality that her team is preparing for the biggest game in school history.

The details

Close did not try to inflame the situation or fully brush it aside. Instead, she acknowledged what much of women's basketball has been processing since Friday night, suggesting there was likely more emotion behind the moment than what the public saw in a short clip. Close emphasized trust in both coaches and the intensity of the environment, rather than taking a side or turning the exchange into pregame theater.

  • On April 5, 2026, hours before the national championship game between UCLA and South Carolina.

The players

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team, who is preparing her team for the national championship game against South Carolina.

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn Huskies women's basketball team, who had a heated postgame exchange with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley after the Gamecocks' Final Four win.

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's basketball team, who had a heated postgame exchange with UConn coach Geno Auriemma after her team's Final Four win.

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What they’re saying

“We texted a little bit last night, but very briefly. I told her in a couple weeks I'd love to know the real story.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Bruins Head Coach

The takeaway

Close's comments underscored that the Geno-Staley clash is a real situation, but not something that should define either coach or overshadow the national championship game itself. Her restraint in handling the controversy suggests she is focused on preparing her team for the biggest game in UCLA history, rather than getting drawn into the drama.