Geno Auriemma Apologizes For ‘uncalled For’ Behavior After Tense Exchange With Dawn Staley

UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions during a heated speech pinch Dawn Staley astatine nan extremity of nan Huskies’ nonaccomplishment to South Carolina successful nan women’s Final Four.

A visibly upset Auriemma went complete to Staley successful nan last seconds of South Carolina’s 62-48 triumph connected Friday nighttime and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from some teams had to abstracted them. When nan crippled yet ended, Auriemma walked disconnected nan tribunal to nan locker room without going backmost to shingle hands pinch anyone from South Carolina.

“There’s nary excuse for really I handled nan extremity of nan crippled vs. South Carolina. It’s dissimilar what I do and what our modular is present astatine Connecticut,” nan Hall of Fame coach said successful a connection connected Saturday. “I want to apologize to nan unit and nan squad astatine South Carolina. It was uncalled for successful really I reacted. The communicative should beryllium really good South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a awesome narration pinch their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”

Auriemma’s connection did not mention Staley by name.

Staley, who has led nan Gamecocks to 3 nationalist titles, and Auriemma, a 12-time champion pinch nan Huskies, are 2 of nan astir respected coaches successful women’s basketball.

After Friday night’s game, Auriemma told a group of reporters that he and Staley “don’t person a batch successful common” and don’t person a narration beyond being coaching rivals. At nan extremity of UConn’s rout of South Carolina in past year’s title game, they met for a hug astatine halfcourt.

Staley said Saturday greeting she was focused connected nan title crippled against UCLA connected Sunday and not what happened a nighttime earlier.

“For me, nary distractions astatine this time. I’m concentrating connected winning a nationalist championship, that’s it,” Staley said. “That’s a small disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things for illustration this happen. Continue to attraction connected my squad and expertise to beforehand successful this tourney and hopefully triumph different nationalist championship.”

Staley later said that she would reside it astatine a later point.

After nan loss, Auriemma said nan speech was astir nan deficiency of a accepted pregame handshake betwixt nan coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday night.

“I person nary idea,” nan South Carolina coach said aft nan game. “But I’m going to fto you cognize this: I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did thing incorrect to Geno, I had nary thought what I did. I conjecture he thought I didn’t shingle his manus astatine nan opening of nan game. I didn’t know. I went down location pregame, shook everybody connected his staff’s hand.

“I don’t cognize what he came pinch aft nan game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”

The Gamecocks are looking for their 3rd title successful 5 seasons.

UConn and South Carolina are group to play each different nan adjacent 2 years pinch nan first crippled successful Connecticut.