UConn coach Geno Auriemma has apologized for his actions during a heated exchange with Dawn Staley at the end of the Huskiesâ loss to South Carolina in the womenâs Final Four.
A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolinaâs 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.
âThereâs no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. Itâs unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,â the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. âI want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I donât want my actions to detract from that. Iâve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.â
Auriemmaâs statement did not mention Staley by name.
Staley, who has led the Gamecocks to three national titles, and Auriemma, a 12-time champion with the Huskies, are two of the most respected coaches in womenâs basketball.
After Friday nightâs game, Auriemma told a group of reporters that he and Staley âdonât have a lot in commonâ and donât have a relationship beyond being coaching rivals. At the end of UConnâs rout of South Carolina in last yearâs title game, they met for a hug at halfcourt.
Staley said Saturday morning she was focused on the title game against UCLA on Sunday and not what happened a night earlier.
âFor me, no distractions at this time. Iâm concentrating on winning a national championship, thatâs it,â Staley said. âThatâs a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.â
Staley later said that she would address it at a later point.
After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday night.
âI have no idea,â the South Carolina coach said after the game. âBut Iâm going to let you know this: Iâm of integrity. Iâm of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didnât shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didnât know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staffâs hand.
âI donât know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.â
The Gamecocks are looking for their third championship in five seasons.
UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other the next two years with the first game in Connecticut.
A visibly upset Auriemma went over to Staley in the final seconds of South Carolinaâs 62-48 victory on Friday night and appeared to chastise her. Coaches from both teams had to separate them. When the game finally ended, Auriemma walked off the court to the locker room without going back to shake hands with anyone from South Carolina.
âThereâs no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. Itâs unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut,â the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. âI want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I donât want my actions to detract from that. Iâve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.â
Auriemmaâs statement did not mention Staley by name.
Staley, who has led the Gamecocks to three national titles, and Auriemma, a 12-time champion with the Huskies, are two of the most respected coaches in womenâs basketball.
After Friday nightâs game, Auriemma told a group of reporters that he and Staley âdonât have a lot in commonâ and donât have a relationship beyond being coaching rivals. At the end of UConnâs rout of South Carolina in last yearâs title game, they met for a hug at halfcourt.
Staley said Saturday morning she was focused on the title game against UCLA on Sunday and not what happened a night earlier.
âFor me, no distractions at this time. Iâm concentrating on winning a national championship, thatâs it,â Staley said. âThatâs a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.â
Staley later said that she would address it at a later point.
After the loss, Auriemma said the exchange was about the lack of a traditional pregame handshake between the coaches. Staley said she was confused Friday night.
âI have no idea,â the South Carolina coach said after the game. âBut Iâm going to let you know this: Iâm of integrity. Iâm of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didnât shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didnât know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staffâs hand.
âI donât know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.â
The Gamecocks are looking for their third championship in five seasons.
UConn and South Carolina are set to play each other the next two years with the first game in Connecticut.
