South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley made headlines not only for being honored with a bronze statue on April 30, but also for subtly responding to comments made by UConn’s legendary coach Geno Auriemma. During her statue unveiling ceremony, Staley delivered a pointed remark that many interpreted as a direct rebuttal to Auriemma’s recent comments about statues and championships.
Earlier in April, while celebrating UConn’s national title during a rally on April 7, Auriemma took a jab by suggesting that “most places” erect statues for a single championship—an apparent reference to A’ja Wilson’s statue outside Colonial Life Arena, erected after her collegiate career with South Carolina. While he didn’t name anyone directly, the implication was clear to fans familiar with the rivalry between the two powerhouse programs.
At her unveiling, Staley responded without mentioning Auriemma by name, clarifying that Wilson’s statue was not simply about a title win. “Contrary to the belief of one of my coaching colleagues,” she said, “her statue wasn’t in response to winning a national championship. It was in response to being a winner at life.” The crowd responded with loud cheers, embracing the moment as yet another chapter in the ongoing tension between the two elite coaches.
Staley’s own statue recognizes her three NCAA championships and broader contributions to the community, cementing her place not just in college basketball, but in South Carolina’s cultural fabric. Meanwhile, fans flooded social media—particularly X (formerly Twitter)—calling Auriemma’s comments “petty” and “shady,” further intensifying the rivalry between the Gamecocks and Huskies.
