UConn's Geno Auriemma doesn't regret what he said about Dawn Staley: 'Why would I?'
Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley were both asked about their Final Four altercation. Here's what the UConn and South Carolina basketball coaches said:
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. They're throwing out the record books! pic.
twitter. com/3C7MpIBPpT — Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) April 4, 2026 REQUIRED READING: 'What are you doing dude? ': Social media reacts to Geno Auriemma-Dawn Staley altercation 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?