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The Utah women's basketball team was forced to change hotels while playing in this year's NCAA tournament due to what coach Lynne Roberts described as “racial hate crimes toward our program.”
Roberts made his comments after the Utes' decision. 77-66 loss to Gonzaga in the second round of the tournament.
“We had several instances of some type of racial hate crimes toward our program,” Roberts said after Monday's loss. according to the Salt Lake Tribune. “It's incredibly disturbing for all of us. You know, you think that in our world, in athletics and in college environments, it's shocking, like there's so much diversity on a college campus and therefore you're not exposed to that very often. slight”.
Roberts did not provide any details but said the incidents occurred Thursday night after the team checked into its hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, about 30 minutes from host Gonzaga's home court.
“I strongly condemn the terrible treatment of female college athletes visiting Coeur d'Alene,” Mayor Jim Hammond said at a news conference Tuesday. “We express our regret and true sadness that your student-athletes were treated with such disdain while visiting our city.”
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What happened to the Utah women's basketball team?
According to a Coeur d'Alene Police Department incident report, team members were out to dinner when two pickup trucks “were revving their engines and speeding alongside the team” as they walked down the street.
“The trucks then turned around and walked back toward the team and yelled the 'N' word at them since many of their players are African-American,” the report continued.
The Kootenai County Human Relations Task Force said in a statement that the truck displayed a Confederate flag and said “appalling racial slurs.”
“As the players left the restaurant after dinner, the same perpetrator, with reinforcements from fellow racists, followed the women back to the Coeur d'Alene Resort and continued the racial threats while revving his engines in a serious threat to the player safety,” the report said. statement read. “The players were so traumatized that they ran back to the hotel and on Friday and Saturday left Coeur d'Alene with their coaches and staff.”
Roberts said the team left the hotel on Friday, the day of its first-round game against South Dakota State, and the NCAA and Gonzaga helped find a new hotel. UC Irvine was also staying at the hotel before its first-round matchup against Gonzaga, and although no one affiliated with UC Irvine was part of the incident, the team was also moved as a precaution.
Gonzaga Athletic Department issued a statement after the game condemning “hate speech in any form.”
“We are frustrated and deeply saddened to learn that what should always be an incredible visitor and championship experience has been compromised in some way by this situation, as it in no way reflects the values, standards and beliefs we hold on to in the Gonzaga University. responsible,” the statement said.
Roberts called the situation “disturbing and unfortunate” and said the incidents made his players feel unsafe during what should have been a joyous occasion.
“Having a black eye on this experience is unfortunate,” Roberts said. “Then the shock of, wow, I can't believe that happened. Yeah, I think it happens a lot. It's not talked about enough.”
Contributing: Brent Schrotenboer, Jordan Mendoza
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