{"id":42312,"date":"2026-04-05T23:21:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:21:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=42312"},"modified":"2026-04-05T23:21:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T23:21:05","slug":"dawn-staley-deflects-auriemma-drama-to-keep-focus-on-uclas-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=42312","title":{"rendered":"Dawn Staley deflects Auriemma drama to keep focus on UCLA’s title"},"content":{"rendered":"


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South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley was disappointed how the Gamecocks\u2019 season ended on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, a 79-51 loss to the UCLA Bruins<\/a> in the national championship game.<\/p>\n

During her post-game interview, Staley was asked about what happened in the Gamecocks\u2019 prior Final Four matchup against UConn, where she and head coach Geno Auriemma had a tense exchange after South Carolina<\/a> advanced to the title game for the third year in a row.<\/p>\n

Rather than hash out more of her thoughts, Staley had a classy response.<\/p>\n

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Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches during the first half of the NCAA women’s basketball championship game against the UCLA Bruins at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026.<\/span> (Ben Solomon\/NCAA Photos)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“I don\u2019t want \u2013 this is UCLA\u2019s day, right? Let\u2019s keep it UCLA, them winning the national championship,” Staley told reporters, via The Athletic<\/a>. “\u2026 We\u2019re not going to damper UCLA\u2019s day with it.”<\/p>\n

Before this national title contest, Staley was spotted having a cordial experience greeting UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close — a much different experience than how Friday night ended with Auriemma.<\/p>\n

UCLA WINS FIRST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL NATIONAL TITLE IN PROGRAM HISTORY WITH DOMINANT WIN OVER SOUTH CAROLINA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

After the Gamecocks defeated the Huskies<\/a>, Staley and Auriemma went viral with their interaction at midcourt, where Auriemma appeared to enrage Staley before walking off.<\/p>\n

This time, Staley and Close hugged and shared a few words. During the exchange, Staley “looked around afterward like, \u2018see??\u2019”, per NBC Sports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Staley was showing a bit of sarcasm, as she noted Auriemma didn\u2019t shake her hand before the Final Four tipped off between the two teams on Friday night.<\/p>\n

After the Gamecocks\u2019 victory over the Huskies, Staley was asked what exactly happened with Auriemma, though she tried to explain her focus in helping her team lock in for the national title game. If they won, it would\u2019ve been the fourth national championship in the last 10 years for South Carolina.<\/p>\n

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Head coach Cori Close of the UCLA Bruins watches during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the NCAA women’s basketball national championship at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026.<\/span> (Christian Petersen\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“For me, no distractions at this time. I’m concentrating on winning a national championship, that\u2019s it,” Staley said at the time. “That\u2019s a little disheartening. This is sports, sometimes things like this happen. Continue to focus on my team and ability to advance in this tournament and hopefully win another national championship.”<\/p>\n

UCONN’S UNDEFEATED SEASON CRUMBLES AS SOUTH CAROLINA GETS SWEET REVENGE AGAINST REIGNING CHAMPS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Auriemma later released a statement, apologizing<\/a> for his behavior after the loss.<\/p>\n

“There\u2019s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina. It\u2019s unlike what I do and what our standard is here\u00a0at Connecticut<\/a>,” the Hall of Fame coach said in a statement on Saturday. “I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don\u2019t want my actions to detract from that. I\u2019ve had a great relationship with their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”<\/p>\n

Staley added she had “no idea” why Auriemma was angry after the game, though she guessed perhaps he was ticked off by the lack of handshake before the game on his own end. Either way, Staley was moving forward.<\/p>\n

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UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close shakes hands with South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley after defeating South Carolina 79-51 in the NCAA women’s championship game at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 4, 2026.<\/span> (Ronaldo Bola\u00f1os\/Los Angeles Times)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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“I don\u2019t know what he came with after the game, but, hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on,” she said.<\/p>\n

For UCLA, it was the first time the women\u2019s basketball program has won the national title, as their emotional celebration ensued following the game in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n