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Geno Auriemma sparks spat with Dawn Staley after the Final Four.
Geno Auriemma appeared on a recent podcast session to speak on an upcoming opportunity in WNBA broadcasting. In doing so, he reignited his beef with South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley.
He still refuses to drop a Final Four loss to the Gamecocks, which ended UCONN’s 2026 national championship run. Auriemma shifted blame to officiating in his latest conversation.
The jab seemed unnecessary given it was in response to a question about the WNBA. It was enough to garner a response from his rival.
Geno Auriemma reignites Dawn Staley beef.
The Huskies coach will call an upcoming pro game alongside Beth Mowins and Robin Roberts this July. That contest will involve the Wings and Liberty.
Three former UCONN superstars will appear in that matchup. Breanna Stewart will face off against Azzi Fudd and Paige Bueckers.
The broadcast will give Auriemma an opportunity to speak on their development as pros while providing insight into their time in Storrs. It will also give him the chance to voice his opinion on other aspects of the game, including coaching and officiating.
Officiating in the WNBA has been top of mind this season. Most recently, controversy erupted surrounding the suspension of Alyssa Thomas, which was linked to an incident involving Caitlin Clark.
Auriemma made his stance clear. He disapproves of the current state of refereeing.
When asked about the topic in the interview, though, he strayed away from the WNBA. Instead, he called out the lacking resumes of referees that officiated his most recent loss.
“Obviously, I have a lot of thoughts on it because we just played in an NCAA semifinal where there was not a foul called against the other team in the entire third quarter in a game that looked like the old Philadelphia Flyers vs. the New York Rangers,” he said.
“We had three (officials) that had no business being in that semifinal game, according to where they were rated… They are calling the game they way they are directed to call the game. People think showing off how physical your game is, is like a badge of honor… It’s bulls—.”
Some might call that classless. Others would say salty. Petty could also enter the chat. Regardless of the intent, his counterpart heard the message loud and clear.
Dawn Staley replied.
gloves off….
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) July 6, 2026
The South Carolina women’s basketball coach does take pride in her team’s physicality. It’s helped her win three titles in Columbia.
The Gamecocks fell just shy of a fourth in 2026, losing in the national championship game to UCLA. They did, however, dispatch Geno Auriemma and the Huskies in the Final Four.
Drama unfolded in the aftermath of that contest as Auriemma yelled at Staley during postgame handshakes before storming off to the locker room.
He’d apologize for the tirade, though he clearly hasn’t let the loss go.
Auriemma would say later in the interview that he and Staley are on good terms. “Why wouldn’t we be?” he asked before the close of the conversation.
The two college basketball coaches might not be on the same page given Staley’s recent response.