Dawn Staley ready to 'turn the page' after Geno Auriemma confrontation in Final Four

Dawn Staley wants the women's college basketball world to "turn the page" following Geno Auriemma's mid-game rant and ensuing comments he made about the South Carolina coach. Staley, a three-time national championship coach, said in a statement on Tuesday, April 7, that she and the UConn coach have spoken since they got into a heated confrontation before the postgame handshake in their Final Four game in Phoenix . REQUIRED READING: Geno Auriemma embarrasses self, UConn with Dawn Staley tiff | Opinion "I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he's meant to this game.

One moment doesn't define a career, and it doesn't change the impact he's had on growing women's basketball," Staley said in the statement. "The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that's something this game has benefited from. "So, I'm asking everyone to turn the page.

Let's refocus on what matters most — continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities and pushing it forward. " The mission is unchanged – let's grow our game 🫡 pic. twitter.

com/mJxqlUy6CK — South Carolina Women's Basketball (@GamecockWBB) April 7, 2026 The heated confrontation between Staley and Auriemma came in the final seconds of their women's Final Four semifinal game on Friday, April 3. ESPN cameras caught the two coaches walking toward each other for the postgame handshake before Auriemma made some comments at Staley. That led to a brief shouting match between the two, with assistant coaches and officials needing to separate the two.