Summary
During the women's NCAA Tournament Final Four, tension arose between coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma over a handshake incident. Despite this, Dawn Staley's South Carolina team lost to Cori Close's UCLA team, which won their first national title. Staley praised Close and the UCLA team for their achievement.
Key Facts
- Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley had a disagreement over a handshake during the Final Four game.
- Auriemma was upset about the wait for a pregame handshake.
- Staley and Cori Close shared a positive interaction before the championship game.
- UCLA won its first NCAA national title by beating South Carolina 79-51.
- South Carolina had previously won national titles in 2024 and 2023.
- UCLA's Lauren Betts was named the 2026 Most Outstanding Player.
- UCLA's senior class scored all the points for their team in the Final Four and championship game.
- Staley's South Carolina team finished the season with a 36-4 record.
