Dawn Staley Brushes Off Geno Auriemma’s Apology Amidst UCLA Championship Celebrations

UConn head coach Geno Auriemma caused quite the stir after confronting Dawn Staley about a missed pregame handshake.

Dawn Staley Brushes Off Geno Auriemma’s Apology Amidst UCLA Championship Celebrations

Geno Auriemma apologized to Dawn Staley (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Dawn Staley dismissed Geno Auriemma's apology, focusing instead on UCLA's championship win.
  • She praised UCLA's head coach Cori Close for her contributions to women's basketball.
  • Staley expressed disappointment in her team's performance during the championship loss to UCLA.

A couple of days ago, head coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley were the two most prominent names being discussed in all of sports.

The former’s UConn Huskies lost to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA Final Four, and that was touted as the reason for the former’s coach to do what he did.

The winningest coach in women’s basketball history confronted his rival after he felt that Staley disrespected a pregame ritual by not shaking hands.

Even though the latter was seen responding that she did, the situation had already captured national headlines. Even Auriemma doubling down on his actions during the postgame press conference made matters worse.

After many called for the 72-year-old to apologize, the native Italian eventually came up with an apology. However, when asked about it, Dawn Staley was not moved.

That’s a Geno question, right?… I haven’t heard from Geno, so… I got 800 text messages, so I don’t know if he texted or not. This is UCLA’s day, let’s keep it UCLA, them winning the national championship. I will address all of that at another time, just not this weekend. We’re not going to damper UCLA’s day with it.

Dawn Staley told reporters

The basketball Hall of Famer did not want to talk about Geno Auriemma’s supposed apology, as she preferred that the media concentrate on how badly her South Carolina team played, or rather, about UCLA winning its first-ever women’s basketball national championship.

Dawn Staley was all praise for UCLA’s head coach

While Dawn Staley made it clear that she did not want to talk about Geno Auriemma or his apology, she definitely wanted to talk about the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game that she was a part of.

UCLA head coach Cori Close and Dawn Staley
UCLA head coach Cori Close and Dawn Staley (Image via Hoops Nation/X)

Even though almost every other media member chose Staley’s South Carolina to win it all, she was surprised by the way in which the UCLA Bruins destroyed her team.

I’m always happy for people who worked hard… I want good things to happen for them. And Cori (Close) is one of those people who really works at making our game better… Though we didn’t win, I can swallow it. Because we lost to a really good human being and a good team that represents women’s basketball well.

Dawn Staley said

It seems the Philadelphia native was extremely happy that someone she respects and loves won the championship. That is why she had no qualms losing the chance to extend her run of success in winning titles as a college head coach.

Staley praised Cori Close‘s body of work, helping women’s basketball grow. This was the three-time Olympic gold medal winner showing poise and grace after a major loss, something Geno Auriemma could not.

Dawn Staley details how her South Carolina Gamecocks lost the Championship

Even though she had nothing but praise for Cori Close and the UCLA Bruins, Dawn Staley was still aghast at how poorly her South Carolina Gamecocks played.

I thought they just came out and disrupted from a defensive standpoint. And then they pretty much got what they wanted, offensively… We just didn’t have it today. We tried. They were the better team today.

Dawn Staley said

She agreed with reporters that the Bruins came in with a definitive plan to disrupt her team’s offensive game plan. After they managed to get the defensive stops necessary, UCLA went on the attack, knowing their opponents were already frustrated.

WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark even noticed how Gabriela Jaquez, along with her five fellow WNBA-bound seniors, used their chemistry to execute their schemes perfectly. That is what enabled them to win the first championship trophy for the women’s basketball program.

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