UConn's Geno Auriemma doesn't regret what he said about Dawn Staley: 'Why would I?'

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UConn's Geno Auriemma doesn't regret what he said about Dawn Staley: 'Why would I?'

Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK · USA TODAY Sports

Sat, Apr 4, 2026 ·

3 min read

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Geno Auriemma had quite a bit to say to and about Dawn Staley during his UConn women's basketball team's 62-48 loss to South Carolina in the 2026 Final Four on Friday, April 3.

It turns out he had even more to say after it.

Even the end of the Huskies' perfect season, bid for a second-consecutive championship and 54-game win streak was overshadowed by a terse exchange between him and Staley as they went to shake hands just before the final buzzer. When the final remaining fractions of a second played out, Auriemma went back to his team's locker room without shaking the hand of Staley or any of South Carolina's players or coaching staff.

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Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma bring intensity to SC‑UConn. See photos

The Final Four matchup between South Carolina and UConn was played with intensity throughout, with emotions building as the game reached its closing stretch.

That tension surfaced late as the outcome was decided, leading to visible reactions and an exchange between two of women’s basketball’s most prominent coaches.

Above, UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley react during the second half of the 2026 Women’s Final Four semifinal at Mortgage Matchup Center.

(Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images)

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks and head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies exchange words during the fourth quarter in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.

(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley (R) yells at Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma at the Mortgage Matchup Arena during Final Four in Phoenix, Ariz. on April 3, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic, Imagn Images)

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley yells out at the referee during their NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal game against the Connecticut Huskies at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 3, 2026.
(Joe Rondone/The Republic, Imagn Images)

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma yells to his team against South Carolina at the Mortgage Matchup Arena during a Final Four semifinal game in Phoenix, Ariz. on April 3, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic, Imagn Images)

Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies reacts during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Sarah Stier, Getty Images)

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during the second quarter against the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Sarah Stier, Getty Images)

Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies gestures during the third quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks reacts during the first quarter against the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks gestures during the second quarter against the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Sarah Stier, Getty Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma reacts in the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)

Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies reacts during the fourth quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on during the first half against the UConn Huskies in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Katharine Lotze, Getty Images)

South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley reacts in the first quarter against the UConn Huskies during a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center.
(Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

Head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies looks on during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley yells to her team around an official against Connecticut at the Mortgage Matchup Arena during a Final Four semifinal game in Phoenix, Ariz. on April 3, 2026.
(Patrick Breen/The Republic, Imagn Images)

UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemmare reacts during the second half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women's 2026 NCAA Tournament against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Mortgage Matchup Center.
(Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images)

What was at the root of the altercation? After initially side-stepping a question in his post-game news conference about the flare-up, Auriemma said it stemmed from having to wait for three minutes for Staley during the customary pregame handshake between coaches.

"For 41 years I've been coaching, 25 Final Fours and before the game, the protocol is you meet at halfcourt," Auriemma said . "Anybody ever see that before? Two coaches meet at halfcourt and shake hands. Correct? Ever see it? They announce it on the loud speaker. And I waited there for like 3 minutes. (shrugs) So it is what it is."

Staley, for her part, said she wasn't sure what caused it.

"I have no idea, but I'm going to let you know this, I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity," Staley said in a post-game interview with ESPN's Holly Rowe. "So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did, I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game, I didn't know, I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff's hand, I don't know what we came with after the game, but hey sometimes things get heated. We move on."

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Emotions were running high for Auriemma even before his team lost. During an in-game sideline interview with Rowe entering the fourth quarter, and with the Gamecocks up by five, the 12-time national champion unloaded in a way few coaches do in such settings, complaining about the foul disparity between the teams and Staley, who he said "rants and raves on the sideline and calls the refs some names you don't want to hear."

After the game, Auriemma said he wanted "to make sure there's not a double standard. I'm of the opinion that if I ever talk to an official like that, I would get tossed. So I just want to make sure there's not a double standard, that some people are allowed to talk to officials like that and other people are not. That's it."

When asked in his post-game news conference if he had any regrets about his answer in his interview with Rowe, Auriemma stood by his words.

"I don't have any regrets with what I said to Holly Rowe. Why would I? Why would I? I've been coaching a long time, I've never had a kid change their jersey because somebody ripped it," he said. "And the officials said, 'I didn't see it.' A lot of things happened in that game. Unless you're on that sideline you have no idea what's happening on that sideline."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Geno Auriemma doubles down on Dawn Staley comments, doesn't regret what he said

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