Dawn Staley threatens to 'beat' Geno Auriemma's ass after Final Four confrontation
New York Post • • general
Key Points:
- South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and UConn coach Geno Auriemma had a heated sideline confrontation following South Carolina's 62-48 upset of UConn in the women's Final Four, with Staley loudly declaring she would "beat Geno’s ass."
- The tension began before the game when Staley allegedly made Auriemma wait for the customary pregame handshake at halfcourt, which Auriemma found disrespectful.
- Auriemma's frustration grew during the game due to what he perceived as biased officiating, with UConn receiving 17 fouls compared to South Carolina's eight, leading to 22 free throws for South Carolina versus six for UConn.
- The postgame handshake turned contentious when Auriemma pointed his finger at Staley and made a critical comment, escalating the rivalry between the two coaches and their programs.
- Both coaches declined to elaborate on the incident publicly, but the rivalry between South Carolina and UConn has intensified, especially after knocking each other out of the tournament in consecutive years.
