Candace Parker Claims Geno Auriemma Showed His ‘True Colors’ In Altercation with Dawn Staley

Candace Parker has never lost to Geno Auriemma in college, and was up front and center of Tennessee's battles against UConn.

Candace Parker Claims Geno Auriemma Showed His ‘True Colors’ In Altercation with Dawn Staley

Geno Auriemma, Dawn Staley, and Candace Parker (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Candace Parker criticized Geno Auriemma's behavior towards Dawn Staley, suggesting it revealed his "true colors."
  • Michael Wilbon described Auriemma's actions as classless and accused him of lying during interviews.
  • Stephen A. Smith questioned the sincerity of Auriemma's apology, emphasizing it should have directly addressed Staley.

Even though the UCLA Bruins won their first-ever NCAA women’s basketball championship, the conversations have been mostly about UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley.

It all started when the Huskies coach confronted his peer after his team lost to the Gamecocks in the round of the Final Four. It was about Staley missing a pregame handshake that Auriemma felt was a traditional dating back decades.

Even though the three-time Olympic gold medalist did remind him that she had shaken his hand, the damage had already been done, and now, it was her turn to become furious.

Dawn Staley does not hold back from saying whatever she wants, and unsurprisingly, she deflected all questions towards Geno Auriemma, making it clear that the problem started with him. Hence, reporters should ask him about it.

Later, he apologized through a University statement, but Staley was not having it. Now, a clip has surfaced where a WNBA legend was asked about her opinion on this altercation.

In time, you see people’s colors over and over, and over again. There can be a separation of time with that. But the colors always come to light.

Candace Parker replied

This answer was not surprising considering that the three-time WNBA champion played for Pat Summitt at Tennessee. The late coach was Geno Auriemma’s fiercest rival, and the battles from those days dominated college basketball.

Candace Parker was just suggesting what she has felt all along about the UConn coach. Even though he is one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time, there are quite a few who do not appreciate him.

Michael Wilbon tears into Geno Auriemma for his behavior towards Dawn Staley

Candace Parker was talking about her former USA Basketball coach’s general behavior. On the other hand, many in the sports world felt that Geno Auriemma was being a classless bully.

Geno Auriemma confronting Dawn Staley
Geno Auriemma confronting Dawn Staley (Image via Action News 5/X)

It’s the disgraceful behavior of a massively insecure bully. It was petulant, it was classless… Lied on national TV, round after round of interviews, and accused South Carolina’s players of doing something his own players did, as if we don’t all have television.

Michael Wilbon said on Pardon the Interruption

The veteran analyst continuously pointed out how the UConn head coach was lying through his teeth about Sarah Strong‘s ripped jersey, just so that he could make his point about Dawn Staley.

Michael Wilbon was also miffed that Auriemma did not address the lying. He felt the 72-year-old had also pointed fingers at South Carolina players after the loss for that incident, which the ESPN analyst felt was blatantly wrong on the part of the UConn coach.

Stephen A. Smith questions Geno Auriemma’s apology

While Michael Wilbon felt that Geno Auriemma did not address his claim that South Carolina players ripped Sarah Strong’s jersey, his colleague and friend Stephen A. Smith asked why the UConn head coach did not apologize directly to Dawn Staley.

He owes Dawn Staley an apology. What the hell is up with that statement, an apology, and you don’t mention her name once? You didn’t go up to the staff, the University of South Carolina… You went in the face of Dawn Staley. That is who you address publicly.

Stephen A. Smith said on First Take

The 58-year-old pointed out that the statement/apology Auriemma released seems to have been drawn up by the University of Connecticut, not the head coach directly.

Smith believes the 12-time national champion coach should have addressed Dawn Staley directly. Since he did not, the ESPN analyst wondered if the loss and the fact that he was outcoached again were the reasons for that tirade.

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