Dawn Staley, Geno Auriemma React to Heated Confrontation in Video After South Carolina Beats UConn

South Carolina women's basketball's 62-48 victory over UConn in the Final Four on Friday evening got a little heated as Gamecocks head coach Dawn Staley and Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma exchanged words at center court as the game was nearing its end.

ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe caught up with Staley after the game and asked what happened.

"I have no idea, but I'm gonna let you know this. I'm of integrity. I'm of integrity," Staley said.

"So if I did something wrong to Geno, I had no idea what I did. I guess he thought I didn't shake his hand at the beginning of the game. I didn't know. I went down there pregame, shook everybody on his staff's hands. I don't know what he came with after the game, but hey, sometimes things get heated. We move on."

Auriemma, who walked back to the locker room prior to the postgame handshake line, also discussed the altercation after the game:

"I said what I had to say," Auriemma told reporters. "Nothing. Nothing."

Staley was asked about the moment with Auriemma after the game.

The two coaches did shake hands prior to the game, and Staley then shook hands with UConn's staff, as video from ESPN showed.

As for the matchup itself, UConn encountered serious offensive issues, shooting just 31 percent from the field and 29 percent from three. Superstars Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd shot just 7-of-31 overall. The Huskies never scored more than 15 points in any quarter and got outscored 38-22.

Auriemma clearly wasn't happy at halftime. During his interview with Rowe, he expressed his displeasure with the officiating.

UConn was called for 17 fouls to South Carolina's eight. South Carolina also shot 22 free throws to UConn's six.

In the end, though, South Carolina was the better team and will be moving on. Ta'Niya Latson posted a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Agot Makeer had 14 points off the bench. South Carolina also out-rebounded UConn 47-32.

The Gamecocks will now play Sunday in search of their fourth national title, including three since 2022.