South Carolina defeated No.1-overall seed UConn, 62-48, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., to advance to the national-championship final against UCLA. But all the attention is on what transpired between legendary coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley.
With just 0.1 seconds remaining in the game, Auriemma approached Staley and shook her hand, then began sharing something he was upset about. Staley engaged with words of her own and the coaches had to be separated.
Auriemma said postgame he was upset that Staley did not uphold a tradition: "For 41 years I've been coaching, the protocol is, before the game you meet at half court and shake hands." Staley did not do that. He also told Staley he was not happy with her interactions with game officials. Auriemma later said, without specifics, he wanted to ensure there's no double standard applied in how coaches can speak to officials.
Staley said she shook hands with Auriemma's staff pregame, but not Auriemma, and said if she had done anything else wrong, she was unaware of it.
UCLA defeated Texas in another low-scoring affair, 51-44, to advance to their first appearance in the championship final. The game will be Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
My take: Kind of rich from Auriemma to complain about working the officials, and a little childish over a pregame handshake. If they'd won, my guess is he doesn't say anything or addresses it where he should have — in private.
THE ASYLUM
Auriemma, Staley clash
South Carolina defeated No.1-overall seed UConn, 62-48, at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., to advance to the national-championship final against UCLA. But all the attention is on what transpired between legendary coaches Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley.
With just 0.1 seconds remaining in the game, Auriemma approached Staley and shook her hand, then began sharing something he was upset about. Staley engaged with words of her own and the coaches had to be separated.
Auriemma said postgame he was upset that Staley did not uphold a tradition: "For 41 years I've been coaching, the protocol is, before the game you meet at half court and shake hands." Staley did not do that. He also told Staley he was not happy with her interactions with game officials. Auriemma later said, without specifics, he wanted to ensure there's no double standard applied in how coaches can speak to officials.
Staley said she shook hands with Auriemma's staff pregame, but not Auriemma, and said if she had done anything else wrong, she was unaware of it.
UCLA defeated Texas in another low-scoring affair, 51-44, to advance to their first appearance in the championship final. The game will be Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
My take: Kind of rich from Auriemma to complain about working the officials, and a little childish over a pregame handshake. If they'd won, my guess is he doesn't say anything or addresses it where he should have — in private.
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