Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley recorded another memorable battle when UConn and South Carolina met in the Final Four last season. Staley’s Gamecocks ended the Huskies’ unbeaten season as Auriemma was so close to tasting his 13th NCAA title.

The game also provided a chaotic moment between the two legendary coaches as they engaged in a verbal confrontation after the game. Auriemma claimed that Staley didn’t shake his hand before the game. Auriemma expressed his anger about it towards Staley after the game. Staley was visibly worked up in that interaction and seemed hurt by Auriemma’s reaction. He issued two apologies in the days after the incident.

After around six months, Staley talked about the incident again on the “Grey Matter” podcast on Thursday. Staley said that she knew Auriemma thought that his anger was about the handshake. However, she believed that it was about losing 62-48. She explained how she also felt bad after losing to Auriemma in the past and that feeling took over UConn’s coach in that moment. Fans reacted to her comments about their exchange.

“Geno was salty and that’s all,” one fan said.

Dawn Staley’s comments about altercation with Geno Auriemma

Dawn Staley addressed the incident once again ahead of the new season.

She said, “I think Geno really thinks it’s about the handshake, and it has very little to do with the handshake. … Understand this, when we played UConn, whether I was at Temple or here at South Carolina. They were the overachieving favorites, and they played that way. They beat us (by) 20, 30, 40 points.

“I made a point to always, after the game, shake his hand, look him in his eye, congratulate him and move on. I purposely made myself do that even though I probably was thinking and feeling some other way, ’cause I hate losing.

“I thought that we would beat them at some point, and that’s what started to happen. And I think probably (in) that moment…”

The host completed her sentence and said, “It all came out.”

She said that she respects him and respects what he’s done for the game. Staley also called Auriemma a genius.

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