By Nunnie Robinsn, WG Sports Editor
Ironically, The Women’s Final Four provided more excitement both on and off the court. While the Arizona and Michigan contest was never in doubt, many pundits chose Illinois over UConn. However, as the game unfolded, the Huskies shot the ball exceptionally well, played tenacious defense, outrebounded the Fighting Illini, and decisively won the turnover battle, an obvious recipe for victory. Final scores: UConn 71–62 over Illinois, while Michigan destroyed Arizona 91–73. In a more competitive final on Monday, the Wolverines prevailed over a game, proud and determined UConn squad, defeating the Huskies 69-63 to win the ‘26 NCAA title, a feat not accomplished since 1989.
The UConn women, riding a 54 game winning streak, appeared poised to defeat South Carolina after the Gamecock’s bitter loss to Texas in the SEC Tournament finals. However, the Huskies shot poorly for most of the game, allowing the more athletic and physical Gamecocks to pull away. A telling example of UConn’s struggles came in the final minute, when they missed an open layup.
Who would have thought that a heated, combustible disagreement between coaches Dawn Staley and Geno Auriemma would overshadow an otherwise competitive game?
In an interview with ESPN reporter Holly Rowe, Auriemma insinuated that foul calls were one-sided, favoring South Carolina (zero fouls) 6–0. He also suggested that Coach Staley’s sideline behavior went unchecked by officials and pointed to a torn jersey on star player Sarah Strong during a last-second layup attempt that was cleanly blocked. These may be reasonable objections if justified.
The question remains: were these perceived offenses sufficient to justify his tirade directed at Coach Staley? Staley does not control foul calls, and if any sideline conduct crossed the line, it is the officials’ responsibility to enforce appropriate penalties. The jersey incident, meanwhile, was effectively debunked by video replay, which appeared to show a frustrated strong ripping apart her own jersey.
For context, both coaches are Philadelphia-born, steeped in a tough, never-back-down mentality, fiercely competitive and driven. Did the shocking defeat trigger Auriemma’s emotional outburst, or did race and misogyny play a role in his accusations? In today’s political climate, those questions inevitably arise. Additionally, his postgame apology, though necessary, came across as somewhat forced, lacking sincerity.
One might also wonder whether the incident had any lingering effect on South Carolina’s surprisingly poor performance Sunday, a lopsided 79–51 loss to UCLA, giving the Bruins their first NCAA championship. The women’s final proved nearly as anticlimactic as the men’s.
The beauty of sports is that it keeps on giving, preventing one from dwelling on disappointments for too long.
Of Note: The California Angels outfielder Jo Odell made 3 spectacular home run saving catches in a victory over the Seattle Mariners, WNBA superstar Angel Reese was traded from the Chicago Fire to the Atlanta Dream for 2 first round draft picks, the NBA playoffs are right around the corner, Major League Baseball and college baseball are in full swing, and the WNBA and NFL drafts are fast approaching. The Florida Panthers, defending Stanley Cup champions, have been eliminated from the playoffs, and Miami’s soccer team—playing in a new state-of-the-art stadium and led by Lionel Messi—has fans energized with anticipation.
Yes, there is always the next play, game or match.