Things got heated following South Carolina’s Final Four upset win over UConn, but it wasn’t the players getting into it.
In the final seconds of the Gamecocks’ victory, Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma approached South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, leading to a heated interaction between the two.
The duo were screaming into each other’s faces, and Auriemma then left the court, refusing to shake Staley’s hand after the loss.
It is unclear what the two said to one another, but Auriemma did have a very spirited mid-game interview due to the lack of calls going his team’s way.
“There was six fouls called that quarter, all of them against us, and they’ve been beating the (expletive) out of our guys down there the entire game,” Auriemma said. “I’m not making excuses because we haven’t been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.
“Their coach rants and raves on the sidelines, and calls the referees some names you don’t want to hear. And now we get 6-0, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go ‘I didn’t see it.’ Cmon man, this is for the national championship.”
Auriemma was referring to Sarah Strong’s jersey being torn in the third quarter.
Staley was visibly upset about the altercation, but wasn’t entirely sure what she could have done to upset Auriemma.
“I have no idea, but I’m gonna let you know this, I’m of integrity, so if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did,” Staley said. “I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I went down there pre-game and shook everybody on his staff’s hand. I don’t know what he came with after the game, but sometimes things get heated. We move on.
“… I’m super proud of our kids, and I’m not going to let any of this take anything away from the performance on the floor.”
Auriemma reportedly later returned to the court to shake Staley’s hand.
Staley’s team handed UConn their first loss of the season and ended its hopes of a second straight national championship.
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