UConn women's basketball coach Geno Auriemma has released a further statement reflecting on his emotional outburst following his team's Final Four defeat to South Carolina last Friday. Three days after his initial apology, Auriemma expressed deeper remorse, this time addressing Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley by name.
Auriemma and Staley confirmed on Tuesday that they have spoken about the sideline confrontation and have agreed to move forward. Staley stated she maintains "a great deal of respect" for Auriemma, a sentiment he reciprocated in his own statement.
"I apologized to Dawn, her staff and her team," Auriemma wrote. "I've lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday I lost something more important. I lost myself." He added that Staley's team "deserved to win, and they deserved better from me. Women’s basketball deserved better."
The incident occurred in the final seconds of South Carolina's victory, which ended UConn's perfect season. Auriemma approached Staley on the sideline, initiating a fracas that required separation. He later skipped the postgame handshake line and criticized officials and Staley in a news conference before apologizing the next day.