The women's basketball championship game Sunday at Target Center will be only the second meeting between Connecticut and South Carolina in the NCAA tournament and the first meeting between coaching greats Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley with the title on the line. Since Staley arrived at South Carolina in 2008, they have faced each other 10 times, with UConn winning eight, though Staley has won two of the last three.
Inside the numbers: Geno Auriemma vs. Dawn Staley
The coaching greats will meet for the first time with the NCAA women's basketball title on the line.
April 2, 2022 at 10:35PM
Geno Auriemma
Age: 68
Hometown: Norristown, Pa.
Seasons at UConn: 37
Career record: 1,149-149
Naismith Coach of the Year Awards: 8
Final Four appearances: 22
Record in national title games: 11-0
Most recent national title: 2016
Record vs. Staley: 8-2
Dawn Staley
Age: 51
Hometown: Philadelphia
Seasons at South Carolina: 14
Career record: 537-185 (in 22 seasons)
Naismith Coach of the Year Awards: 2
Final Four appearances: 4
Record in national title games: 1-0
Most recent national title: 2017
Record vs. Auriemma: 2-8
Auriemma vs. Staley: Game-by-game
Dec. 28, 2008: No. 1 UConn 97, South Carolina 39
Feb. 9, 2015: No. 2 UConn 87, No. 1 South Carolina 62
Feb. 8, 2016: No. 1 UConn 66, No. 2 South Carolina 54
Feb. 13, 2017: No. 1 UConn 66, No. 6 South Carolina 55
Feb. 1, 2018: No. 1 UConn 83, No. 7 South Carolina 58
March 26, 2018: No. 1 UConn 94, No. 7 South Carolina 65 (NCAA tournament, Regional final)
Feb. 11, 2019: No. 4 UConn 97, No. 11 South Carolina 79
Feb. 10, 2020: No. 1 South Carolina 70, No. 5 UConn 52
Feb. 8, 2021: No. 2 UConn 63, No. 1 South Carolina 59 (OT)
Nov. 22, 2021: No. 1 South Carolina 73, No. 2 UConn 57
Two offensive linemen from Lakeville, Bryce Benhart and Riley Mahlman, are standouts for Big Ten rivals of Minnesota.
