NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Former UConn star Sue Bird and her wife, former soccer star Megan Rapinoe, criticized Bird’s former coach Geno Auriemma after he got into a shouting match with South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley following their Final Four fight.
Rapinoe said the coach put “everyone in a really difficult situation.”
“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.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks argues 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. (Photos by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA via Getty Images)
“We’re so used to him speaking his mind in those moments, especially at a press conference, that on some level it felt out of place. But I’m glad he made a statement and apologized.”
Rapinoe went a step further and said that because Auriemma has a significant presence as a white man in a “predominantly black space,” it “matters” how he represents himself.
“No matter the growth, investment and success, women’s basketball is at the intersection of gender, race, sexuality and diversity, because of who she is in this sport – and she absolutely deserves respect for her success – it matters how she presents herself,” Rapinoe said.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a semifinal game of the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
JIMMY KIMMEL TELLS THE UCLA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM TO GIVE TRUMP THE FAKE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
“It’s important for him to recognize the South Carolina players and say, ‘You beat me.’ It’s important for him to show up for his staff, his players, Dawn Staley and his team. Not being there at that moment didn’t honor the space he was given. He didn’t show that respect and I think that’s what struck a chord with people.
“As a highly successful white figure in this space, there is an added responsibility to lead by example in allyship and game stewardship. He got that wrong. He apologized, which is important, and hopefully he continues to take responsibility and make amends.”
Auriemma said after the game that he was upset that Staley had not shaken his hand 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 against 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 a semifinal game of the NCAA women’s college basketball tournament at the Final Four in Phoenix on April 3, 2026. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
“It’s different than what I do and our standard here in Connecticut. I want to apologize to the South Carolina staff and team. How I reacted wasn’t necessary. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that. I’ve had a great relationship with their staff and I sincerely want to apologize to them.”
South Carolina ended up losing to UCLA in the national championship.
