PHOENIX — UConn coach Geno Auriemmaissued a statement to apologizefor his behavior at the end of the Huskies loss to South Carolina on Friday, April 3 in the Final Four.
UConn was riding a 54-game winning streak heading into the game and looking for a second consecutive championship but everything was overshadowedby an end-of-game exchange between Auriemma and Dawn Staleyas they went to shake hands just before the final buzzer. The pair had a heated conversation before being separated by assistant coaches. Auriemma went back the locker room without shaking Staley or her team's hands.
"There's no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It's unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that. I've had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."
South Carolina did not have much to say about the confrontation in her press availability on April 4.
"No distractions at this time. Concentrating on winning a national championship. That's it," Staley said.
She did admit that incident has created a diversion that has taken the spotlight off her team.
"That's a little disheartening, but at the same time, this is sports and sometimes things like this happen," Staley said. "... Just continue to focus on our team and their ability to advance in this tournament. And hopefully win another national championship."
The Final Four matchup between South Carolina and UConn was played with intensity throughout, with emotions building as the game reached its closing stretch.That tension surfaced late as the outcome was decided, leading to visible reactions and an exchange between two of women's basketball's most prominent coaches.
Above, UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley react during the second half of the 2026 Women's Final Four semifinal at Mortgage Matchup Center." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks and head coach Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies exchange words during the fourth quarter in the Final Four of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Mortgage Matchup Center on April 03, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma bring intensity to SC‑UConn. See photos
The Final Four matchup between South Carolina and UConn was played with intensity throughout, withemotions building as the game reached its closing stretch.That tension surfaced late as the outcome was decided, leading to visible reactions and an exchange between two of women's basketball's most prominent coaches.Above, UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley react during the second half of the 2026 Women's Final Four semifinal at Mortgage Matchup Center.
In the middle of coaches shouting each other, South Carolina point guard Raven Johnson said she tried to support Staley.
"I honestly just saw her screaming. Something she doesn't usually do. I ran over to her quick," Johnson said." Like, I don't play about Coach Staley at all. We've been through a lot together. She fights for each one of us outside of basketball.
"When she's in situations like this, I'm always going to have her back. I don't know why I gave her a high five. I gave her a high five. She gave me one back. ... I was just trying to calm her down in the moment, yeah."
After initially saying "nothing, nothing" when asked what happened between him and Staley in his postgame press conference,Auriemma said he was upsetbecause he waited for three minutes for her during a customary pregame handshake between coaches.
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"For 41 years I've been coaching, 25 Final Fours and before the game, the protocol is you meet at halfcourt. Anybody ever see that before? Two coaches meet at halfcourt and shake hands. Correct? Ever see it? They announce it on the loud speaker. And I waited there for like 3 minutes,"Auriemma saidwith a shrug. "So it is what it is."
ESPN cameras did show the two coaches met briefly in pregame, with Staley hugging Auriemma and several members of the UConn women's basketball team.
Staley also deflected when asked about the dustup in her postgame press conference. She said she wanted to keep the focus on the South Carolina victory.
"You can ask Geno the question," Staley said in the postgame news conference Friday when asked about the incident. "He's the one that initiated. I don't want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today."
The Gamecocks will face UCLA in the national championship at 3:30 p.m. ET at Mortgage Matchup Center on Sunday, April 5. Staley will be vying for her for her fourth title.
UConn, meanwhile, is headed back to Storrs, Connecticut without a 13th title. Fifth-year senior Azzi Fudd played her final game with the Huskies. National player of the year Sarah Strong will return next season.
During the second Final Four semifinal broadcast between UCLA and Texas, ESPN's Ryan Ruocco and Rebecca Lobo, a former UConn star, discussed the Staley-Auriemma exchange and postgame comments.
Ruocco: "Probably a moment he would like to have back. He doesn't feel that way yet according to the comments coming from the podium now."
Lobo: "Geno Auriemma, this is his 25th Final Four, 13 times he has gone out without a championship, and every other time he has lost with class. And frustrating to see what transpired at the end of that game."
This story was updated to add more information.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:UConn coach Geno Auriemma apologizes for behavior after Final Four loss