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Former UConn star Sue Bird and her wife, ex-football star Megan Rapinoe, were critical of Bird’s former coach, Geno Auriemma, after he got into a shouting match with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley after their Final Four game.
Rapinoe said the coach put “all of you in a really tough spot.”
“Listen, I think what coach Auriemma did last night was obviously wrong and disappointing,” Bird said on her and Rapinoe’s podcast before praising the coach for apologizing fairly quickly.
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Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks tussles with Geno Auriemma of the UConn Huskies during the second half of an NCAA Women’s Final Four semifinal game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona on April 3, 2026. (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Images via Getty Images)
“We’re so used to him speaking his mind in those moments, especially in a press conference, that it felt out of character on some level. But I’m glad he came out with a statement and apologized.”
Rapinoe took it a step further, saying that because Auriemma is an important presence as a white man in a “predominantly black space,” “it’s important” how he represents himself.
“Regardless of growth, investment and success, women’s basketball sits at the intersection of gender, race, sexuality and diversity because of who he is in this sport — and he absolutely deserves respect for his success — how he shows up matters,” Rapinoe said.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after an NCAA women’s college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
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“It means something for him to acknowledge South Carolina’s players and say, ‘You beat me.’
“As a very successful white figure in this space, there’s an added responsibility to lead by example in allies and stewardship of the game. He missed the mark on that. He’s apologized, which is important, and hopefully he’ll continue to take responsibility and make amends.”
Auriemma said after the game that he was upset that Staley had not shaken hands before the game (the two were seen shaking hands before the game, but Auriemma said he waited several minutes before seeing Staley).
“There is no excuse for how I handled the end of the game vs. South Carolina,” Auriemma said in a statement posted to social media.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after an NCAA women’s college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
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“It’s contrary to what I do and what our standard is here in Connecticut. 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’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a good relationship with their staff and I sincerely apologize to them.”
South Carolina ended up losing to UCLA in the national championship.
