Staley Calls for Moving Past Final Four Skirmish with Auriemma

South Carolina coach says it's time to refocus on elevating women's basketball.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:38pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented, multi-angled view of a women's basketball game, capturing the dynamic energy and competitive spirit of the sport.The heated exchange between two legendary coaches underscores the intense rivalry and competitive spirit driving the growth of women's basketball.Philadelphia Today

South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley has released a statement calling for moving past her Final Four skirmish with UConn coach Geno Auriemma. Staley expressed respect for Auriemma and said the two have spoken since South Carolina's 62-48 victory over UConn on Friday. Auriemma had previously apologized for his actions at the end of the game.

Why it matters

The heated exchange between the two high-profile coaches became a major talking point during the NCAA women's basketball tournament. With the season now over, Staley is looking to shift the focus back to the growth and elevation of the women's game, which both she and Auriemma have championed throughout their careers.

The details

In her statement, Staley said she spoke with Auriemma and wants to make it clear that she has "a great deal of respect" for him and his impact on women's basketball. Auriemma had apologized on Saturday for his actions at the end of the game, saying his reaction was "uncalled for" and that he didn't want it to detract from South Carolina's strong performance.

  • On Friday, April 4, 2026, South Carolina defeated UConn 62-48 in the NCAA women's basketball Final Four.
  • On Saturday, April 5, 2026, Geno Auriemma apologized for his actions at the end of the game.

The players

Dawn Staley

The head coach of the South Carolina women's basketball team, who is a native of North Philadelphia.

Geno Auriemma

The head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, who grew up in Norristown, Pennsylvania and attended West Chester University.

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What they’re saying

“With the college women's basketball season behind us, it's time to move forward and close the chapter on how our semifinal game with UConn ended. I spoke with Geno and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he's meant to the game.”

— Dawn Staley, Head Coach, South Carolina Women's Basketball

“There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted.”

— Geno Auriemma, Head Coach, UConn Women's Basketball

The takeaway

This incident highlights the intense rivalry and competitive spirit between two of the top women's basketball programs in the country. However, both Staley and Auriemma have shown their commitment to the growth and elevation of the women's game by moving past this skirmish and refocusing the conversation on the positive impact they've had on the sport.