Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley have tense postgame exchange after South Carolina shocks UConn in Final Four
UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a heated exchange at the end of the game. As the two went to shake hands with 0. 1 seconds left, Auriemma appeared to go to shake Staley’s hand and began yelling in her direction.
Staley responded with words of her own.
Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma exchange words near the end of Friday night’s game. Photograph: Rick Scuteri/AP South Carolina beat undefeated UConn 62-48 in Friday night’s semi-final of the NCAA Women’s Tournament, ending the Huskies’ winning streak at 54 games and securing a return trip to the national championship game. UConn coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley had a heated exchange at the end of the game.
As the two went to shake hands with 0. 1 seconds left, Auriemma appeared to go to shake Staley’s hand and began yelling in her direction. Staley responded with words of her own.
Assistant coaches went to calm the two sides, and UConn inbounded the ball to end the game. Staley went to shake hands with UConn staffers while Auriemma headed for the tunnel without appearing to shake the hands of any South Carolina players or coaches. Players from both teams shook hands before the UConn players sprinted up the tunnel.