All things considered, this UConn Huskies team looked good enough to win back-to-back National Championships. As mentioned in a previous piece I wrote, this season’s squad averaged more points per game and allowed fewer points per game than last season’s team who won it all.
Throw in the fact this roster had two first-team All-Americans in forward Sarah Strong and guard Azzi Fudd. What’s more, Strong took home the Naismith Player of the Year Award.
UConn entered their Final Four showdown against South Carolina on a 54-game winning streak, tied for the fourth longest in the history of Women’s Division I Basketball. The first half of this game saw the Huskies take a 26 – 24 lead over the Gamecocks. However, it was all South Carolina in half number two as Dawn Staley‘s team outscored UConn by a 38 – 21 margin.
South Carolina ended the winning streak and the hopes of another National Championship in Storrs, winning 62 – 48. It’s important to note the 48 points were far and away the fewest scored this season by Geno Auriemma’s team. Also, Strong and Fudd went a combined 7 – 31 from the field as UConn went 6 – 21 from three-point range.
All in all, three seniors played their final games in a Huskies jersey. Fudd, guard Caroline Ducharme, and forward Serah Williams will turn the chapter on their time with UConn. A reflection of this season’s accomplishments should have been one of the headlines for this team. Yet, that was not the case.
…Just One More Thing
Usually, I am not one to add personal commentary as a former colleague here at Beyond Women’s Sports in Martin Ruben did it so well. Nonetheless, there are thoughts I have regarding what happened near the conclusion of the game.
Auriemma and Staley shared some words on the sidelines as Auriemma left to the tunnel soon after. He mentioned in his post-game press conference the foul discrepancy and Staley’s alleged behavior towards the officials. Additionally, a pre-game handshake that he asserts did not take place.
A photo prior to the game:
Two legendary coaches meet again ?#WFinalFour pic.twitter.com/yB1EdTOxTC
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) April 3, 2026
Whether Auriemma is right or wrong in his claims, he was wrong in his behavior towards Staley. Being a fan of the Huskies for over two decades, this looks bad no matter how one tries to shape it. He is seen as an ambassador for Women’s College Basketball, but looked far from that on Friday evening in Phoenix. Geno showed poor sportsmanship and gave off the perception of being a sore loser.
Auriemma is 2 – 2 versus Staley in the NCAAW Tournament, but has lost five of the last six meetings versus South Carolina overall. In my opinion, Staley is what Pat Summitt was to Geno: a rival.
An apology should be in order from Geno, but he would retire before doing that at this rate. He might have a change of heart, yet he needs to recognize Staley is not going anywhere any time soon.
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