The dynasty Staley built just got torched on national television. One of the most decorated coaches in women’s college basketball walked off the court with nothing but questions swirling around her. Meanwhile, Geno Auriemma casually walked into legend status with his 12th ring – reminding everyone who still runs the sport. Now, the pitchforks are out, and the noise is deafening.

For what it’s worth, this latest win came at the expense of one of Auriemma’s best rivals: Dawn Staley. Over her 17-year tenure with South Carolina, Staley has assembled a juggernaut of a program. A program that has won three national titles and nine SEC titles. On Sunday night, however, her team could not muster the same energy as UConn. The gap between the two teams was there for all to see.

Despite everything Staley has achieved, her Gamecocks looked second-best across the board, leaving fans and experts alike stunned. Not just that, Auriemma now holds a 10-5 advantage over Dawn Staley in their head-to-head matchups. The 82-59 defeat to UConn in the 2025 NCAA Championship game marked a 23-point loss for South Carolina. However, earlier this season, on February 16, 2025, South Carolina suffered a 29-point loss to UConn (87-58), which was their largest margin of defeat since 2008.

Auriemma has historically had Staley’s number.

For Staley, it was a rare low moment in a championship game. Her team was helpless against UConn’s two-way dominance. The Gamecocks were down 30 points in the third quarter, a deficit that proved impossible to turn around. At the end of the game, Staley’s frustrations were visible as the cameras zoomed in on a visibly furious Staley as the final moments unfolded. Her reaction quickly went viral.

Staley was frank about how her team performed in her postgame press conference: “I hope they’re crying… because crying makes you work harder.” While Staley was optimistic that her players would respond to the loss appropriately, fans were less forgiving after the game. They took to social media to express frustration with the result. And in some quarters, to call for changes within the program.

Fans call for a change: What lies ahead for Dawn Staley?

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The online outrage was quick and brutal. One fan commented, “I think it’s time for Dawn Staley to hang it up and retire. She’s past her prime. Had a great run with some great accomplishments, but it’s time to ride off into the sunset before she drags our glorious WBB team down with her.” Another one shared the same sentiment: “She got what she deserves. Dawn Staley should retire.”

Despite the brutal fallout Staley faced in the past 24 hours, there’s no denying her resume. It’s clear what she has done to rebuild the South Carolina women’s program into one of the best in the nation. Now, with three national titles and an undefeated 2024 season, this finals loss was just flat-out ugly for everyone involved. Fans were upset with the lack of fight they saw from the Gamecocks, and it almost felt like they had just quit, something many didn’t take lightly.

“Time to retire Dawn Staley. This team was not ready to play” One fan wrote bluntly. “Love this. Hopefully, that’s the last we see of Dawn Staley and SC,” rejoiced another. “Dawn Staley needed a dude pretending to be a chick on her team to handle UConn today,” commented another.

As calls to retire grow louder, Staley faces a decision: Will she crumble to the haters or take on the daunting task of closing the gap? Auriemma’s 12th title has set a gold standard that only a legend like Staley can meet. Make no mistake, this is a defining time in Staley’s career, and her legacy, along with SC’s future, depends on what she does next.