Coaches Geno Auriemma of UConn and Dawn Staley of South Carolina will be on opposing benches just seven months after their fiery exchange at the end of their Final Four game in April.
The Huskies and Gamecocks will play as part of a doubleheader at the annual Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase on Nov. 24 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
UCLA, which defeated South Carolina 79-51 for the program’s first NCAA national championship last month, will face St. John’s in the other game as the 13th annual event was altered from two days to one.
The Gamecocks had defeated the Huskies 62-48 on April 3 in Phoenix, earning a spot in the national final against UCLA and ending UConn’s perfect season and 54-game win streak.
As the final seconds ticked down, the two head coaches walked toward each other as though they were about to shake hands.
However, Auriemma didn’t put forward his hand, instead making a comment to Staley, who reacted angrily, and the two had to be separated. Auriemma was led away, but he soon came back past Staley, who continued to shout at him.
In his postgame interview, Auriemma complained about the Gamecocks’ physical play, adding, “Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referees some names you don’t wanna hear.”
His initial apology the next day didn’t mention Staley by name. Several days later, Auriemma apologized again, singling out Staley and saying he spoke with her about the incident. Staley issued a statement, saying she had moved on from the dispute.
“With the college women’s basketball season behind us, it’s time to move forward and close the chapter on how our semifinal game with UConn ended,” Staley wrote in her statement. “I spoke with Geno and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he’s meant to the game. One moment doesn’t define a career and it doesn’t change the impact he’s had on growing women’s basketball.”
Earlier this month, Auriemma said of his actions following the loss, “When I walked into the locker room afterward with the coaches, you are just shaking your head, thinking five more seconds, you couldn’t keep it in for five more seconds. … We are all human, and we all do dumb (stuff).”
South Carolina and UConn will meet in the regular season for the first time since Feb. 16, 2025, when the Huskies’ ended the Gamecocks’ 71-game home winning streak with an 87-58 rout. South Carolina was the defending national champion, and UConn went on to win the title that season in a rematch 82-59.
The Huskies lead the all-time series 11-6.
“It’s always great to be back at an event tied to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame because we know it will be a great experience for teams and fans from start to finish,” Staley said in the event’s news release on Tuesday. “The organizers do a great job of creating elite matchups and an amazing environment at Mohegan Sun.”
UConn won last year’s Hall of Fame Showcase, beating Michigan 72-69 and Utah 93-41 over two days.
“The Basketball Hall of Fame Women’s Showcase is an event we’re excited to participate in each season,” Auriemma said in the release. “It featured some of the top nonconference games and has become a great stage for women’s basketball. Fans will once again get to see some great basketball at Mohegan Sun.”
UCLA is 3-0 against St. John’s, with the last meeting in November 2021. The Bruins graduated their top six players, and all were selected in the WNBA draft.
–Field Level Media
