WNBA legend Lisa Leslie demands Geno Auriemma apologize for Dawn Staley exchange

A heated exchange between UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley took center stage after Staley’s team defeated the Huskies in the Final Four.

While the game was a close battle early, it became clear in later quarters that UConn’s players, including stars Azzi Fudd and Sarah Strong, weren’t shooting at their best. Along with that, South Carolina seemed to frustrate UConn on defense throughout the game.

Auriemma’s frustrations with the game hinged on the officiating, which he called out in a sideline interview ahead of the final quarter, suggesting that UConn wasn’t getting as many whistles from the refs as South Carolina. That later spilled over into his postgame interaction with Staley, as the UConn head coach confronted her, although it was unclear to those watching the exchange what transpired.

That postgame interaction led to officials and team staff getting involved to separate the two head coaches, as Staley also became fired up by whatever Auriemma had said to her. After the game, she told reporters at the postgame press conference to ask Auriemma what he said, and she wouldn’t let it take away from her team’s win.

Auriemma suggested that it had to do with Staley not coming to shake his hand pregame, indicating during an interview that he waited three minutes for her and she never showed up. Video footage shows a pregame handshake between Staley and Auriemma and other members of UConn’s staff before the game, so it’s unclear if Auriemma was referring to something else.

The postgame incident certainly resulted in backlash for UConn’s head coach, including the ESPN analysts and WNBA legend Lisa Leslie. She praised South Carolina and coach Staley on the win, but also called out Auriemma, demanding an apology.

“Congratulations to @dawnstaley and the @GamecockWBB team on an outstanding game plan executed to perfection! It’s a real shame that #Geno took the low road! We have all had to lose with class! Geno of the @UConnWBB needs to start with an apology!!! #GenoApologize,” Leslie wrote in her X message.

More news: Azzi Fudd Admits Feeling ‘Guilty’ After Losing Final UConn Game

Leslie was a three-time WNBA MVP and two-time WNBA champion, playing for the Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2009. She played her college basketball in the 1990s as a member of USC and, since watching the game from afar, is familiar with Auriemma and Staley’s coaching greatness over the years.

Auriemma seemed unapologetic in his postgame press conference and other interviews, suggesting that he and Staley aren’t on friendly terms, which lends itself further to the recent heated rivalry between these two college teams. However, perhaps over time, he might have a different opinion about what occurred in the Final Four.

With the outcome, Staley’s South Carolina team moves on to the championship game to play Lauren Betts and UCLA on Sunday.

For more about college basketball, visit Newsweek Sports.

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