Daybreak Staley deflects Auriemma drama to maintain deal with UCLA’s title

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South Carolina head coach Daybreak Staley was dissatisfied how the Gamecocks’ season ended on Sunday afternoon in Phoenix, a 79-51 loss to the UCLA Bruins within the nationwide championship sport.

Throughout her post-game interview, Staley was requested about what occurred within the Gamecocks’ prior Remaining 4 matchup in opposition to UConn, the place she and head coach Geno Auriemma had a tense alternate after South Carolina superior to the title sport for the third yr in a row.

Moderately than hash out extra of her ideas, Staley had an aesthetic response.

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Head coach Daybreak Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks watches through the first half of the NCAA girls's basketball championship sport in opposition to the UCLA Bruins at Mortgage Matchup Middle in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Ben Solomon/NCAA Images)

"I don’t need – that is UCLA’s day, proper? Let’s preserve it UCLA, them profitable the nationwide championship," Staley informed reporters, by way of The Athletic. "… We’re not going to damper UCLA’s day with it."

Earlier than this nationwide title contest, Staley was noticed having a cordial expertise greeting UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Shut -- a a lot completely different expertise than how Friday night time ended with Auriemma.

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After the Gamecocks defeated the Huskies, Staley and Auriemma went viral with their interplay at midcourt, the place Auriemma appeared to enrage Staley earlier than strolling off.

This time, Staley and Shut hugged and shared a number of phrases. Throughout the alternate, Staley "appeared round afterward like, ‘see??’", per NBC Sports activities.

Staley was displaying a little bit of sarcasm, as she famous Auriemma didn’t shake her hand earlier than the Remaining 4 tipped off between the 2 groups on Friday night time.

After the Gamecocks’ victory over the Huskies, Staley was requested what precisely occurred with Auriemma, although she tried to clarify her focus in serving to her workforce lock in for the nationwide title sport. In the event that they received, it might’ve been the fourth nationwide championship within the final 10 years for South Carolina.

Head coach Cori Shut of the UCLA Bruins watches through the first quarter in opposition to the South Carolina Gamecocks within the NCAA girls's basketball nationwide championship at Mortgage Matchup Middle in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 5, 2026. (Christian Petersen/Getty Pictures)

"For me, no distractions right now. I am concentrating on profitable a nationwide championship, that’s it," Staley stated on the time. "That’s a bit disheartening. That is sports activities, generally issues like this occur. Proceed to deal with my workforce and talent to advance on this match and hopefully win one other nationwide championship."

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Auriemma later launched a press release, apologizing for his habits after the loss.

"There’s no excuse for a way I dealt with the tip of the sport vs. South Carolina. It’s not like what I do and what our commonplace is right here at Connecticut," the Corridor of Fame coach stated in a press release on Saturday. "I wish to apologize to the workers and the workforce at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story ought to be how properly South Carolina performed, and I don’t need my actions to detract from that. I’ve had an important relationship with their workers, and I sincerely wish to apologize to them."

Staley added she had "no thought" why Auriemma was indignant after the sport, although she guessed maybe he was ticked off by the shortage of handshake earlier than the sport on his personal finish. Both manner, Staley was transferring ahead.

UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Shut shakes arms with South Carolina Gamecocks head coach Daybreak Staley after defeating South Carolina 79-51 within the NCAA girls's championship sport at Mortgage Matchup Middle in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 4, 2026. (Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Occasions)

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"I don’t know what he got here with after the sport, however, hey, generally issues get heated. We transfer on," she stated.

For UCLA, it was the primary time the ladies’s basketball program has received the nationwide title, as their emotional celebration ensued following the sport in Phoenix.