Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley have made the UConn Huskies and the South Carolina Gamecocks two powerhouses in college women’s basketball. They have created an entertaining rivalry in the last decade or so, as they’ve clashed multiple times, sometimes with a lot at stake, giving fans exciting matchups.
Their most recent meeting happened in April, when the Gamecocks suffered an 82-59 loss against UConn in the 2025 national championship game. This growing rivalry isn’t as intense as the one Auriemma had with the late Pat Summitt, but analyst Mark Zanetto compared it to one of the most exciting in tennis.
“It sucks that they don’t play in the same conference,” Zanetto said, per Sportskeeda. “It’s kind of becoming like UConn-Tennessee when I was growing up. If they don’t play each other, you’re left wondering — why not? You expect to see them in the tournament at some point, because that’s just how it goes. The other thing — I’m a tennis guy, still am. Watching the two best players in the world, (Jannik) Sinner and (Carlos) Alcaraz, face off in the French Open — that’s what these two programs are like.”
Dawn Staley makes clear statement on rivalry with Geno Auriemma, UConn
Dawn Staley discussed her rivalry with Geno Auriemma shortly after the 2025 national championship game ended. She touched on the challenges of facing a successful program as UConn, saying she doesn’t change the way she treats her opponents regardless of the result.
Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina
“I try to shake your hand the same way,” Staley said. “I’m going look in your eyes the same way because I know that at some point, we’re gonna win and I don’t want to I don’t want to give anybody a psychological advantage.”
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These two teams clashed twice last season and fans hope to see more of their duels for many years.
