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The Connecticut Huskies lost their undefeated season to the South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four and head coach Geno Auriemma did not handle it well.<\/p>\n
UConn were heavy favorites entering the game, but Dawn Staley\u2019s team emerged victorious in a 62-48 victory. Auriemma was bursting at the seems throughout the game and exploded during his in-game interview with ESPN\u2019s Holly Rowe.<\/p>\n
During the interview<\/a> he complained about not just the referees, but also called out his rival coach for her language towards the referees as well.<\/p>\n Geno Auriemma: \u201cThere were 6 fouls called that quarter. All of \u2019em against us. And they\u2019ve been beating the sh*t out of our guys down there the entire game\u2026 This is ridiculous. Their coach rants and raves on the sideline, and calls the referees some names you don\u2019t wanna hear.\u201d pic.twitter.com\/LOx4MUagg6<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n If it looked like Auriemma was about to undergo a volcanic eruption at that point, it was nothing compared to what happened after the game. After three quarters, UConn was still trailing by just five points. However, they were outscored 18-9 in the final period. And in what was supposed to be a postgame handshake, the two coaches got into a blowup on the sidelines and had to be separated with just a few tenths of a second on the clock.<\/p>\n Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley got into it at the conclusion of South Carolina\u2019s Final Four win over UConn. https:\/\/t.co\/qMP6PIiX5U<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/4HsQpVnvRk<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After the game, ESPN analysts Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike criticized<\/a> Geno Auriemma for his behavior throughout the game and afterwards in his interaction with Dawn Staley. Some of his claims, like South Carolina players ripping the jersey of star player Sarah Strong, were found to be inaccurate. They both mentioned how shocking it was to see a coach so accomplished completely lose his composure like that on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n And on social media, Auriemma was condemned unanimously across the sports media and women\u2019s basketball universe for his behavior and temper tantrum on the sidelines.<\/p>\n That was some unacceptable, classless garbage from Geno that stole the thunder from South Carolina and Dawn Staley\u2019s awesome, dominant win.<\/p>\n Geno is the \ud83d\udc10. That was embarrassing nonsense.<\/p>\n \u2014 Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Full Geno vs Dawn Staley breakdown.<\/p>\n Pretty clear Geno thought Dawn Staley didn\u2019t shake his hand pregame, when there is clear video that she did.<\/p>\n Pretty lame from Geno. Sore loser after a tough loss. pic.twitter.com\/58zlg2NEmE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jack Mac (@JackMac) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n WOW.<\/p>\n Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley going at it at the Women\u2019s Final Four<\/p>\n Sportsmanship level -1000 for Coach Auriemma after going straight to the locker room and refusing to shake South Carolina\u2019s hands. pic.twitter.com\/e3DHVgdrQG<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Jake Marsh (@JakeMarsh18) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Let\u2019s be honest, Geno isn\u2019t mad about a handshake \u2013 he\u2019s mad his team got the butts whipped! https:\/\/t.co\/qQiCPhaFSS<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Not gonna lie, this explanation makes Geno Auriemma look even worse. https:\/\/t.co\/9b7CnM0uFF<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Brad Crawford (@BCrawford247) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Geno Auriemma needs to stop playing the familiar victim, after targeting Dawn Staley to take his anger out from losing, while looking satisfied he got a rise out of her from transferring his salty emotions.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll be watching for an apology by Monday for falsely accusing her of\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/LYKe0gEOhn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Dawn Staley shook hands pregame. But let\u2019s call it what it is. She won 3 Olympic Gold Medals as a player. She never gives pregame \u2018hugs\u2019. I played against her. Evil eye all the way. She hates her opponent. But she\u2019s always of integrity. Wild that she got in Geno\u2019s head.<\/p>\n \u2014 StaceyDales (@StaceyDales) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I hope Geno has people who are going to sit him down and tell him that if this is what it\u2019s going to look like as he gets into his mid-70s, it might be time to exit stage left.<\/p>\n I am skeptical that\u2019s the case. https:\/\/t.co\/LVDuxffFzq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In Fort Worth, I asked Geno how he prepares his team for adversity.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as adversity goes, I would say the adversity is me, right?\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday, that was prophetic. On Geno Auriemma, unravelling at the seams in inexcusable, embarrassing fashion: https:\/\/t.co\/B3ZEsQxK97<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Lindsay Gibbs (@linzsports) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n That was some straight B.S. from the GREAT Geno Auriemma. Never \u2014 ever \u2014 thought I\u2019d see the day when the greatest woman\u2019s 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\u2026<\/p>\n \u2014 Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Geno Auriemma got in his feelings \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02<\/p>\n \u2014 Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n After the game, Geno Auriemma tried to explain his actions and frustration by saying that Dawn Staley made him wait too long<\/a> for a pregame handshake. Or that she didn\u2019t come to shake his hand a second time. If that\u2019s all it took for him to completely lose his mind and crash out at the Final Four, then it\u2019s a stunning admission of just how much she and the South Carolina program are in his head.<\/p>\n \n\t<\/div>\n\n
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