UConn Coach Refuses to Shake Hands with South Carolina Coach After Their Screaming Match at Women's Final Four Semifinal
"Sometimes things get heated. We move on," South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said after the argument
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma arguing on April 3 Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty NEED TO KNOW Connecticut Huskies coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley got into a heated argument with seconds left of the women's Final Four semifinals game on Friday, April 3 Auriemma refused to shake Staley's hand after the game was over South Carolina's 62-48 victory snapped UConn's 54-game winning streak Connecticut Huskies coach Geno Auriemma got into a screaming match with the South Carolina Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley near the end of the women’s Final Four semifinals game on Friday, April 3. Auriemma showed his frustration before the game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix was over when he complained about officiating in an interview with ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe. "There were six fouls called that quarter —all of them against us," Auriemma told Rowe.
"And they've been beating the s--- out of our guys down there the entire game. I'm not making excuses, 'cause we haven't been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.
” Geno Auriemma exchanged words with Dawn Staley in the final seconds of South Carolina and UConn’s Final Four matchup. pic. twitter.
com/S6anlPKqwe — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 4, 2026 "Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referee some names you don't want to hear,” Auriemma continued. “And now we get 6 to 0, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, 'I didn't see it. ' Come on, man.