Utah women's basketball team experienced 'racial hate crimes' during NCAA Tournament
The Utah women's basketball team was forced to change hotels while playing in this year's NCAA Tournament because of what coach Lynne Roberts described as "racial hate crimes toward our program."
Roberts made her comments following the Utes' 77-66 loss to Gonzaga in the tourney's second round.
"We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program," Roberts said after Monday's loss, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. "Incredibly upsetting for all of us. You know, you think in our world in athletics and university settings it’s shocking in a − like there is so much diversity on a college campus and so you’re just not exposed to that very often."
Roberts did not provide any specifics, but said the incidents occurred Thursday night after the team checked into its hotel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, roughly 30 minutes away from host Gonzaga's home court.
"I strongly condemn the appalling treatment of the female college athletes who are visiting Coeur d’Alene," Mayor Jim Hammond said in a press conference Tuesday. "We express regret and true sorrow that your student-athletes were treated with such disdainful treatment while visiting our city."
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According to an incident report from the Coeur d’Alene Police Department, team members had gone out to dinner when two pickup trucks "were revving their engines and speeding by the team" as they walked down the street.
"The trucks then turned around and came back towards the team and yelled the 'N' word at them as many of their players are African-American," the report continued.
The Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations said in a statement 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 continuing the racial threats while revving up their engines in a serious threat to the players' safety," the statement read. "The players were so traumatized they rushed back to the hotel and on Friday and Saturday left Coeur d’Alene with their coaches and staff."
Roberts said the team checked out of the hotel on Friday – the day of its first-round game against South Dakota State – with the NCAA and Gonzaga assisting in finding a new hotel. UC Irvine was also staying at the hotel ahead of its first round matchup against Gonzaga, and while no one affiliated with UC Irvine was part of the incident, the team was also moved as a precaution.
Gonzaga's athletic department released a statement after the game condemning "hate speech in any form."
"We are frustrated and deeply saddened to know that what should always be an amazing visitor and championship experience was in any way compromised by this situation, for it in no way reflects the values, standards, and beliefs to which we at Gonzaga University hold ourselves accountable," the statement said.
Roberts called the situation "upsetting and unfortunate" and said the incidents made her players feel unsafe during what should have been a joyous occasion.
"To have kind of a black eye on this experience is unfortunate," Roberts said. "So the shock of like, wow, I can’t believe that happened. Yeah, I think it happens a lot. It doesn’t get talked about enough."
Contributing: Brent Schrotenboer, Jordan Mendoza