Dawn Staley speaks out on Geno Auriemma incident, urges 'everyone to turn the page'

Dawn Staley issued a statement on Tuesday, saying she has spoken with Geno Auriemma after their heated exchange at the Final Four

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said she has spoken with UConn coach Geno Auriemma after the two had a heated exchange at the women's Final Four on Friday. Staley, whose Gamecocks beat Aurimema and UConn before losing to UCLA in Sunday's title game, is urging everyone to move on. 

Staley released a statement on Tuesday saying the focus moving forward should be on growing women's basketball. She added she has a "great deal of respect" for Auriemma.

"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," Staley wrote. "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 this game. One moment doesn't define a career, and it doesn't change the impact he's had on growing women's basketball. The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that's something this game has benefited from.

"So, I'm asking everyone to turn the page. Let's refocus on what matters most -- continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities and pushing it forward. That's always been my mission, and it's not changing."

The mission is unchanged – let's grow our game 🫡 pic.twitter.com/mJxqlUy6CK

— South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 7, 2026

Auriemma got into it with Staley in the waning seconds of South Carolina's 62-48 win over the Huskies in Phoenix. His issues appeared to stem from Staley not shaking his hand right before tip-off. The two did share a separate pregame handshake. 

Tensions were high at the buzzer, and a video captured Staley saying she would "beat Geno's ass." After the incident, Auriemma headed to the locker room instead of participating in the handshake line after the game was over. The UConn coach released an apology on Saturday and said there was no excuse for how he handled the end of the game.

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"The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that," read part of his statement. "I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."

Staley didn't speak about it much ahead of the Gamecocks' championship game against UCLA, which they ended up losing 79-51.

Auriemma has won 12 national titles with UConn, while Staley has three championships with the Gamecocks, two of them in the past five years.

They don't play in the same conference, but it won't be too long before they meet again. South Carolina and UConn are set to face again this November at the Basketball Hall of Fame Women's Showcase at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. And, who knows, perhaps they'll cross paths again at the 2027 Final Four.