UConn Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma released a statement on Tuesday revealing that he spoke to South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and apologized to her directly for his behavior near the end of their Final Four matchup on Friday.
“This morning, Dawn Staley and I spoke about our interaction after the game last Friday,” Auriemma said. “I apologized to Dawn, her staff and her team. I’ve lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday I lost something more important. I lost myself. Those who know me know I have nothing but respect and admiration for the game and the coaches who coach it. Dawn and her team deserved to win, and they deserved better from me.”
“Women’s basketball deserved better. My university, my athletes, my former players and our fans deserved better. Dawn and I have agreed to move on, and we hope the focus will shift back to the growth in women’s basketball. The game deserves it.”
The viral argument took place in the final seconds of South Carolina’s victory over UConn in the Final Four. Auriemma approached Staley on the sidelined and confronted her for allegedly making him wait too long for a pre-game handshake.
The exchange got heated and Auriemma had to be pulled away from the exchange.
As one of the most influential women’s basketball coaches of all time, many were disappointed in Auriemma’s actions on Friday. But Staley’s statement on Tuesday reflected a desire to bury the hatchet and move on from the incident.
James Parker contributed to this story.
