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One of the most hard-fought Final Four meetings in recent years came between UConn and South Carolina on Friday night.
What started on the court moved to the sidelines between Huskies coach Geno Auriemma and Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley. The two got into a heated exchange directly after South Carolina's 62-48 win. Auriemma was upset for the physical play and a brief shouting match between the two became the story.
"You can ask Geno the question," Staley said about the incident to reporters. "He's the one that initiated. I don't want what happened there to dampen what we were able to accomplish today."
Auriemma didn't provide much context at all, saying, “Nothing… I said what I had to say. Nothing. Nothing.”
The back-and-forth torched social media with many people chiming in about what happened. Here are a few of the reactions about the action in Phoenix.
Congratulations to @dawnstaley and the @GamecockWBB team on an outstanding game plan executed to perfection! It’s a real shame that #Geno took the low road! We have all had to lose with class! Geno of the @UConnWBB needs to start with an apology!!! #GenoApologize
— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) April 4, 2026GENO A SUCKER X 10 ‼️
— Boosie BadAzz (@BOOSIEOFFICIAL) April 4, 2026Geno Auriemma to Dawn Staley pic.twitter.com/BPUxl6mz1H
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) April 4, 2026More on the heated exchange between Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma #MarchMadness #WFinalFourhttps://t.co/NK3Q1iJqVz
— Sammy Profeta (@profeta_sammy) April 4, 2026That was some straight B.S. from the GREAT Geno Auriemma. Never — ever — thought I’d see the day when the greatest woman’s college coach in history would go down so CLASSLESSLY!!! Horrible look, and should be called out for it. He got OUTCOACHED. Plain and simple. And gets in her…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 4, 2026Geno's tantrum saved this first night of the women's Final Four. The on-court play has been brutal. Geno has served as a wonderful distraction from the primitive play.
— Jason Whitlock (@jasonwhitlock) April 4, 2026Let me be Clear: Geno Auriemma OWES Dawn Staley an apology for the verbal altercation he initiated, & to regain the class he left on the court. Focusing on Dawn's reaction afterwards--who's in a calm state before* Geno spoke--ignores the sequence of events captured on video. pic.twitter.com/64uYaOeFGJ
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 4, 2026Dawn Staley shook hands pregame. But let’s call it what it is. She won 3 Olympic Gold Medals as a player. She never gives pregame ‘hugs’. I played against her. Evil eye all the way. She hates her opponent. But she’s always of integrity. Wild that she got in Geno’s head.
— StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) April 4, 2026South Carolina advances to play UCLA in the National Championship Game on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
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