PHOENIX — Dawn Staley is not here for Geno Auriemma’s rant, or his apology, or whatever we might ask her about either one. She is also not here to “beat Geno’s ass,” even if she said that in a heated moment at the end of South Carolina’s victory over Connecticut on Friday. Staley has North Philly blood but South Carolina priorities. She has players who are good enough to win a national title, and she owes it to them to help them do it. If there is one person in the world who understands this, it is Geno Auriemma.
Auriemma apologized for his outburst, as he should have. He said, “there’s no excuse for how I handled the end of the game,” that it was “uncalled for,” and that “the story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don't want my actions to detract from that.” Auriemma did not mention Staley by name, but he did apologize to the South Carolina staff and team.
