Dawn Staley shuts out noise, eyes another title amid Geno Auriemma apology drama

PHOENIX — South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley has positioned the Gamecocks to play on the last day of the women's college basketball season, but she finds it “disheartening” how the focus is elsewhere. UConn head coach Geno Auriemma issued an apology to South Carolina and team staff for how he conducted himself during the Huskies’ Final Four loss to the Gamecocks . His statement was posted on social media less than an hour before Staley's prescheduled press conference ahead of the NCAA championship game on Saturday.

When asked if Auriemma reached out to her personally, Staley shut down all conversations that would further detract from her team reaching the title game for the fourth time in five years. “For me no distractions at this time. Concentrating on winning the national championship.

That's it,” Staley said. “That’s a little disheartening… I’m choosing to stick to the task at hand. At some point everything is going to be addressed.

Today, this weekend won't be one of them. ” The Gamecocks put on a defensive masterclass to hold the Huskies to season lows in points and field goal percentage and snap their 54-game win streak. In the waning moments of South Carolina's 62-48 win on April 3, Auriemma and Staley got into a heated confrontation before the postgame handshake.