UConn coach Geno Auriemma erupts on officials, calls out Dawn Staley during Final Four in-game interview: ‘This is ridiculous’

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Geno Auriemma was heated after the third quarter on Friday night in Phoenix, and he went after both the officials working their Final Four game and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley in his ESPN interview. 

Auriemma, with the Huskies down by five points entering the final period of their Final Four matchup with the Gamecocks in Phoenix, absolutely laid into the officiating and Staley in a rare outburst while speaking with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. 

That came after South Carolina drew six fouls in the third period while the Huskies didn’t earn any. UConn star Sarah Strong had to replace her jersey after it was ripped in the quarter, too.

“There were six fouls called that quarter, all of them against us. And they’ve been beating the s**t out of our guys down there the entire game,” Auriemma said. “I’m not making excuses, because we haven’t been able to make a shot. But this is ridiculous.

“Their coach rants and raves on the sideline and calls the referees some names that you don’t want to hear. And now we got 6-0, and I’ve got a kid with a ripped jersey, and they go, I didn’t see it. Come on man, this is for the national championship!”

Strong was seen ripping her jersey on the baseline, but it’s unclear if it was torn a bit before that. She made a bigger tear, however, and switched jerseys to wear No. 55 the rest of the way. 

UConn entered Friday night’s contest, which is a rematch of last season’s national championship game, with a perfect 38-0 record. 

Staley, who is wrapping up her 18th season with the Gamecocks, was spotted badgering the officials repeatedly without any repercussions early in the contest. It’s unclear what Auriemma is referring to specifically with the “names” that he said Staley called the officials.

This post will be updated with more information shortly.