Geno Auriemma has seldom, if not never, missed the WNBA Draft. However, the UConn Huskies Head Coach was not present at the event this year, as he chose to be by a close one who had just undergone a personal tragedy.

Reporting on his absence, ESPN’s Alexa Philippou wrote, “UConn coach Geno Auriemma is not attending the WNBA draft tonight. He is attending services for the husband of UConn program assistant (and his former player) Peggy Myers, who lost her husband, Norm, last month to brain cancer.”

She further added, “Auriemma spoke with potential No. 1 pick Azzi Fudd and her family about the situation before the draft. Assistant coach Morgan Valley, Fudd's position coach, will be at her table this evening representing the Huskies staff.”

Having said that, his protege, Azzi Fudd, landed with the Dallas Wings as the No. 1 pick, reuniting with her former UConn Huskies teammate Paige Bueckers.

And while Geno Auriemma was at the solemn occasion, the initial speculation surrounding his absence suggested that it was related to his heated exchanges with South Carolina Head Coach Dawn Staley during their Final Four clash at the NCAA Tournament.

Many Assumed that Geno Auriemma was Ducking Dawn Staley

To the uninformed, Auriemma and Staley were seen exchanging words courtside during their Final Four clash, and as time passed, the former began expressing his frustration over his opponent’s strategy and the officiating at the game.

Things got so heated that the two had to be separated, and Geno Auriemma added fuel to the fire by refusing to shake hands with Dawn Staley after the game.

Auriemma, however, expressed his regret shortly after, issuing a public apology for his behavior. The statement was released after a phone call with Staley, clearing the air surrounding the controversy.

"This morning, Dawn Staley and I spoke about our interaction after the game last Friday," he wrote. "I apologized to Dawn, her staff, and her team. I've lost more games in the Final Four than any coach in history. But Friday, I lost something more important. I lost myself."

"Those who know me know I have nothing but respect and admiration for the game and the coaches who coach it. Dawn and her team deserved to win, and they deserved better from me. Women's basketball deserved better,” Auriemma added.

He continued, "My university, my athletes, my former players, and our fans deserved better. Dawn and I have agreed to move on, and we hope the focus will shift back to the growth in women's basketball. The game deserves it."

Dawn Staley responded with a statement that read, "I spoke with Geno, and I want to be clear — I have a great deal of respect for him and what he's meant to this game. One moment doesn't define a career, and it doesn't change the impact he's had on growing women's basketball.”

"The standard at UConn is what it is because of him, and that's something this game has benefited from. So, I'm asking everyone to turn the page,” she added.

Staley continued, "Let's refocus on what matters most — continuing to elevate our game, creating opportunities, and pushing it forward. That's always been my mission, and it's not changing."

That being said, many misinterpreted Auriemma’s absence as a duck to avoid inconvenience despite the public apology and reconciliations, as Dawn Staley was present at the event in New York to support her South Carolina players, Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, and Madina Okot, who were all projected first-round picks.

Staley’s presence at the 2026 WNBA Draft included a moment where she hugged Raven Johnson before Johnson walked on stage to be selected 10th overall by the Indiana Fever.

Read more at She Got Game!

Written by

Sauramita Debbarma

Edited by

Arvind Rao