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Former UConn prima Sue Bird and her wife, ex-soccer prima Megan Rapinoe were captious of Bird's erstwhile coach, Geno Auriemma, aft he sewage into a shouting lucifer pinch South Carolina caput coach Dawn Staley pursuing their Final Four bout.
Rapinoe said the coach put "you each successful a really reliable spot."
"Listen, I deliberation what Coach Auriemma did past nighttime was evidently incorrect and disappointing," Bird said connected her and Rapinoe's podcast earlier praising nan coach for apologizing alternatively quickly.
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Dawn Staley of nan South Carolina Gamecocks argues pinch Geno Auriemma of nan UConn Huskies during nan 2nd half of an NCAA Women's Final Four semifinal crippled astatine Mortgage Matchup Center successful Phoenix, Arizona connected April 3, 2026. (C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
"We’re truthful utilized to him speaking his mind successful those moments, particularly successful a property conference, that it did consciousness retired of characteristic connected immoderate level. But I americium gladsome he came retired pinch a connection and apologized."
Rapinoe took it a measurement further, saying that because Auriemma is an important beingness arsenic a White man successful a "predominantly Black space," "it matters" really he represents himself.
"No matter nan growth, investment, and success, women’s hoops sits astatine nan intersection of gender, race, sexuality, and diversity, because of who he is successful this athletics — and he perfectly deserves respect for his occurrence — it matters really he shows up," Rapinoe said.
South Carolina caput coach Dawn Staley and UConn caput coach Geno Auriemma reason aft a women's NCAA assemblage hoops tourney semifinal crippled astatine nan Final Four successful Phoenix connected April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
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"It matters that he acknowledges South Carolina’s players and says, 'You hit me.' It matters that he shows up for his staff, his players, Dawn Staley, and her team. Not being location successful that infinitesimal didn’t grant nan abstraction he’s been given. He didn’t show that respect back, and I deliberation that’s what struck a nervus pinch people.
"As a highly successful White fig successful this space, there’s an added work to lead by illustration successful allyship and stewardship of nan game. He missed nan people connected that. He has apologized, which is important, and hopefully he continues to return work and repair."
Auriemma said aft nan crippled he was upset Staley had not shaken his manus earlier nan crippled (the 2 were seen shaking hands pregame, but Auriemma said he waited respective minutes earlier seeing Staley).
"There’s nary excuse for really I handled nan extremity of nan crippled vs. South Carolina," Auriemma said successful a statement posted to societal media.
South Carolina caput coach Dawn Staley and UConn caput coach Geno Auriemma reason aft a women's NCAA assemblage hoops tourney semifinal crippled astatine nan Final Four successful Phoenix connected April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
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"It’s dissimilar what I do and what our modular is present astatine Connecticut. I want to apologize to nan unit and nan squad astatine South Carolina. It was uncalled for successful really I reacted. The communicative should beryllium really good South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a awesome narration pinch their staff, and I sincerely want to apologize to them."
South Carolina coiled up losing to UCLA in nan nationalist championship.
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