The University of Utah women's basketball coach says her team was the target of a series of “racial hate crimes” after arriving in Idaho for the NCAA Tournament last week. The incident prompted the team to change hotels for safety, she said.
Utah coach Lynn Roberts told reporters The team, made up of black, white and Latino athletes, reportedly encountered several incidents after arriving in the Spokane area Thursday night for a tournament against Gonzaga University. Roberts did not elaborate on the incident, but said he was concerned enough to request that he be moved from a hotel in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, to a location closer to Spokane.
“Racism is real, it's happening, and it's terrible,” Roberts told reporters Monday. “For our players, no one, white, black, green or whatever, knew how to handle this situation. And it was really upsetting. And I don't think anyone, white, black, green or whatever, knew how to handle this situation. And I think it's important to know that our players and staff are safe in an NCAA Tournament environment.” It's terrible not to be able to feel it.”
Roberts added that the NCAA and host school Gonzaga University lobbied to move the team to another hotel. Neither Roberts nor the women's track and field team responded to requests for comment.
Utah's assistant athletic director Charmell Green, who is Black, told KSL News in Salt Lake City that the team was walking to a local restaurant for dinner with band members and cheerleaders when they saw someone in a white truck. said he came towards the group and revved up his engine. He started the engine and sped away, yelling the N-word.
“We were all in shock and we looked at each other and were like, 'Did you just hear that?'” Green said. “We just shook our heads and said, 'I can't believe it,' and kept walking.”
The team continued into the night. Then, as they were leaving the restaurant, two trucks pulled up to them, the drivers revving their engines and shouting the N-word.
“I got emotional and started crying,” Green told KSL. “I was just numb all night.”
The team was in Idaho, about 35 minutes from Spokane, Washington, and was scheduled to play there during the tournament's opening weekend. Utah was one of three teams to stay in Idaho instead of Washington due to a lack of hotel space in the Spokane area, where Gonzaga is located. Utah State athletic director Mark Harlan lamented the arrangement, telling KSL, “We shouldn't have been there.”
Gonzaga University officials confirmed the situation. Statement shared on social media.
“Gonzaga University has made racist comments in recent days toward student-athletes and members of the traveling public who were visiting Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in advance of first- and second-round games in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.” I realized that this had taken place.” The statement began.
“Hate speech in any form is disgusting, shameful and must never be tolerated. We have worked hard to secure our opportunity as a host institution, but our top priorities are The safety and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, families, and support staff is and must be. To accomplish this goal, we work closely with the NCAA and program participants to ensure that our stakeholders We have supported the safety and security of everyone. We are mortified and deeply saddened to know that what is always a great visitor and championship experience has been in some way compromised by this situation. Because it in no way reflects the values, standards, and beliefs for which Gonzaga University is held accountable.”
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