UConn Geno Auriemma lost his chance to return to the national title game, then lost his cool on rival coach Dawn Staley.
UConn lost to Staley’s South Carolina in a Final Four showdown on Friday, with the blowout loss leaving Auriemma heated both at the referees and Staley. He was seen blowing up at Staley in a sideline interaction after the game, one that drew some sharp criticism for the legendary UConn coach.
Geno Auriemma Sounded Off on Staley, Referees
Auriemma was seen exchanging some sharp words with Staley after his team’s loss. Speaking to reporters after the game, Auriemma said he was upset at what he saw as a disparity in calls from officials and with Staley working the referees during the game.
“Their coach (Staley) rants and raves on the sideline, and calls the referee some names you don’t want to hear,” Auriemma said. “And now we get six-to-zero, and I got a kid with a ripped jersey. Come on man. This is for the national championship.”
Staley seemed stunned at the interaction, saying she didn’t know why Auriemma had grown so upset, but didn’t seem to dwell on it as her team was now preparing for a trip to the national title game.
“I have no idea,” Staley said when asked what happened between the coaches. “But I’m going to let you know this, I’m of integrity. I’m of integrity. So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn’t shake his hand at the beginning of the game, I didn’t know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff’s hand, I don’t know what we came with after the game. But hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on.”
Geno Auriemma Facing Criticism
Auriemma’s reaction didn’t sit well with many, garnering some criticism for what many saw as misguided anger. Commentator Stephen A. Smith called Auriemma “classless” for the way he tore into Staley in the handshake line.
Smith also suggested there was a double standard for Auriemma, who has a reputation as a tough coach and an often sharp demeanor.
“That was some straight B.S. from the GREAT Geno Auriemma,” Smith shared in a post on X. “Never â ever â thought Iâd see the day when the greatest womanâs 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 face like she did something wrong to him instead of being gracious. Had Dawn Staley acted like that we would be all over her.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post UConn’s Geno Auriemma Under Fire for ‘Classless’ Dawn Staley Confrontation appeared first on Heavy Sports.