Members of the Utah women’s basketball team were subjected to racial slurs by individuals in a truck with a Confederate flag as they were walking from their hotel to a restaurant in Coeur d’Alene. The incident involved the use of racist language, including the N-word, and occurred before their NCAA Tournament game. The same driver returned after the team left the restaurant, this time accompanied by others who revved their engines and continued yelling at the team. The Coeur d’Alene police chief stated that about 100 people were in the area at the time, and investigators are working to speak with those affected. Two potential state charges that could be brought against those involved are malicious harassment and disorderly conduct. The FBI is also involved in the investigation, but no suspects have been identified as of now.
Idaho Governor Brad Little condemned the incident, stating that there is no place for racism, hate, or bigotry in the state. He described the perpetrators as bullies seeking to harass and silence others. Utah women’s basketball coach Lynne Roberts disclosed the incident as a series of racial hate crimes directed at the team. She expressed that the team was upset by the incidents, highlighting the shock of encountering racism in a diverse university setting. Roberts emphasized the reality of racism and the importance of addressing such behavior. The team, along with South Dakota State and UC Irvine, had been staying in Idaho due to hotel space constraints in the Spokane area. Roberts mentioned that Gonzaga University and the NCAA assisted the team in relocating hotels to ensure their safety and well-being during the NCAA Tournament.
Roberts stressed the impact of the racial hate crimes on the players and staff of the Utah women’s basketball team, noting that the experience was disconcerting for everyone involved regardless of their race. She described the environment as NCAA Tournament setting where players and staff should feel safe, but the incident undermined that sense of security. Roberts expressed her disappointment at the lack of safety in a supposedly inclusive and diverse setting. The incident highlighted the reality of racism and the necessity to address such behavior in sports and university environments. Roberts commended the support from Gonzaga University and the NCAA in assisting the team in moving hotels to ensure their safety and well-being during the tournament.
The incident involving racial slurs and hate crimes directed at the Utah women’s basketball team in Coeur d’Alene sparked condemnation from various individuals and organizations, including Idaho Governor Brad Little, who emphasized the need to denounce racism, hate, and bigotry. The involvement of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations and the Coeur d’Alene police in investigating the incident underscored the seriousness of the situation. The potential state charges of malicious harassment and disorderly conduct against those involved in the incident were mentioned as part of the ongoing investigation. The support provided by Gonzaga University and the NCAA in facilitating the team’s relocation to a safer hotel demonstrated a commitment to ensuring the well-being of the players and staff during the NCAA Tournament.
