UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma reflected Monday on his game-ending dispute with South Carolina coach Dawn Staley at the end of a Final Four defeat last month, saying, "I just feel like a dumbass for the way it played out."
The Gamecocks prevailed 62-48 on April 3 in Phoenix, earning a spot in the national final and ending the Huskies' perfect season.
As the final seconds ticked down, the two head coaches walked toward each other as though they were about to shake hands.
However, Auriemma
didn't put forward his hand, instead making a comment to Staley, who reacted angrily, and the two had to be separated. Auriemma was led away, but he soon came back past Staley, who continued to shout at him.
In his postgame interview, Auriemma complained about the Gamecocks' physical play, adding, "Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referees some names you don't wanna hear."
His initial apology the next day didn't mention Staley by name. Several days later, Auriemma apologized again, singling out Staley and saying he spoke with her about the incident. Staley issued a statement, saying she had moved on from the dispute.
On Monday, Auriemma said of actions on following the loss, "When I walked into the locker room afterward with the coaches, you are just shaking your head, thinking five more seconds, you couldn't keep it in for five more seconds. ... We are all human, and we all do dumb s---."
The sports media and social media went after Auriemma in the days after the game.
"I didn't see a lot of it, but (the reaction) is to be expected," Auriemma said. "Maybe some of it was warranted and some of it was people lying in the weeds waiting for that for that moment.
"It doesn't matter what you've done for the game, it's what you just did. Unfortunately, that's the world we live in today and it usually is one-sided. ...
"I brought the criticism on myself, I didn't bring the commotion that came after that on myself."
Auriemma, 72, owns the all-time NCAA basketball record for coaching victories with 1,288. The Huskies have won 12 national championships during his tenure, the latest in 2025. The Final Four defeat to South Carolina last month snapped the Huskies' 54-game win streak, and UConn ended the season 38-1.
--Field Level Media
