U.S. News
Dawn Staley’s Deflection Raises Questions After Championship Loss
Clear Facts
- The UCLA Bruins defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 to win their first women’s basketball national championship.
- Coach Dawn Staley declined to focus on her prior sideline spat with Geno Auriemma and kept the spotlight on UCLA.
- UConn coach Geno Auriemma later apologized after the tense Final Four exchange drew criticism.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley maintained a focus on respect following her team’s loss in the national championship game against the UCLA Bruins.
Despite recent tension with UConn coach Geno Auriemma, Staley chose to honor the victors rather than revisit past grievances.
The Bruins dominated the contest in Phoenix to earn their program’s first national title.
Staley ensured the post-game narrative remained centered on the championship winners.
“I don’t want – this is UCLA’s day, right? Let’s keep it UCLA, them winning the national championship,” Staley told reporters.
“… We’re not going to damper UCLA’s day with it.”
Prior to the final tip-off, Staley demonstrated proper sportsmanship by greeting UCLA head coach Cori Close with a hug.
This stood in stark contrast to the viral encounter with Auriemma, who reportedly failed to shake hands before their game.
Auriemma later expressed regret for the unprofessional exchange following his team’s exit from the tournament.
He acknowledged that his behavior did not meet the standards of his program.
“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,” Auriemma said.
“I don’t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on,” Staley remarked.
The Gamecocks fell short of their goal for a fourth national title in ten years, but Staley’s leadership remained evident through her refusal to allow distractions to overshadow the sport.
The Bruins concluded their historic season with an emotional celebration on the court.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
