No. 1 South Carolina and No. 1 Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma had a heated exchange during a Final Four classic, when they had to be separated at midcourt during the final seconds of the game. Staley had no idea what sparked the altercation, but insisted that she had no intention of any wrongdoing. Auriemanma also criticized the game's officiating, calling the free-throw disparity "ridiculous" and suggesting that Staley used inappropriate language with the referees. This was the first time Connecticut had lost since February 2025, marking the program's first loss since 2000.