Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Utah’s Alissa Pili dribbles against South Dakota State.
CNN
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Women of Utah basketball The team had to change hotels after experiencing what head coach Lynne Roberts called “racial hate crimes” before their first game. NCAA Tournament game.
According to Roberts, the team was staying at a hotel in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, last week when the incidents occurred. It was before a first-round game against South Dakota State in Spokane, Wash., about 30 miles away.
“We had several instances of racial hate crimes against our program, and (it was) incredibly upsetting for all of us,” Roberts told reporters Monday.
She added: “There’s so much diversity on a college campus and so you’re not exposed to it very often…Racism is real. It happens. It’s horrible. So for our players, whether they were White, Black, Green, whatever, no one knew how to do it. It was really upsetting.
Utah beat South Dakota State on Saturday before losing 77-66 to Gonzaga in the second round of the tournament on Monday. CNN has reached out to Utah and Gonzaga for further comment.
Young Kwak/AP
Roberts gives instructions to Utah players against Gonzaga.
The details of the alleged racist incidents are unclear, but Gonzaga said they may have been derogatory comments.
Following them, Roberts said the Utes changed hotels after just one night before their games in Spokane.
“The fact that our players and staff don’t feel safe in an NCAA tournament environment, it’s a mess, and so we moved hotels,” she said.
“The NCAA and (host university) Gonzaga worked to get us into a new hotel and we appreciate that. That’s what happened. It was a distraction, upsetting and unfortunate.
“It should be positive for everyone involved. This should be a joyful moment for our program. Having some sort of black eye on this experience is unfortunate.
Spokane was also a predetermined site for the first two rounds of the men’s tournament. With the Utah, UC Irvine and South Dakota State women’s teams all staying in the area, hotel space was limited.
After some men’s teams were eliminated, the NCAA and Gonzaga offered Utah and UC Irvine the chance to move into vacated hotel rooms in Spokane, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
The source added that because Utah and UC Irvine were based in Idaho, Gonzaga arranged for police escorts to ensure the travel time to the venue did not exceed about 30 minutes, which which is a condition to be able to accommodate after obtaining a high price. -16 seeds.
Young Kwak/AP
Players and staff on the Utah bench watch Gonzaga.
After those two teams were moved to Spokane hotels, police escorts continued to be provided to them, according to the source.
Gonzaga said that he is aware of “racist comments” made to visiting players, adding: “Hate speech, in any form, is disgusting, shameful and must never be tolerated.
“We have worked hard to secure the opportunity to serve as the host institution, and our first priority is and must be the safety and well-being of all student-athletes, coaches, families and support staff.”
The NCAA said Tuesday it has worked with Gonzaga and Utah to provide increased security for the Utes until new accommodations are developed in Spokane.
“The NCAA condemns racism and hatred in all its forms and is committed to providing student-athletes with a world-class athletic and academic experience that promotes lifelong well-being,” she said. declared in a press release. “NCAA championship events represent the pinnacle of a student-athlete’s collegiate career. We are devastated by the Utah team’s experience as they traveled to compete on what should have been a weekend, competing on the brightest stage and creating some of the greatest memories of their lives .
The organization thanked local law enforcement for their quick response and “efforts to keep student-athletes safe.”
Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little offered no details, but called the incidents “hateful and unacceptable actions by a few” that Idahoans cannot allow to “tarnish our state.” “.
“Idaho leaders and community members at all levels have been consistent and clear about our values – we totally reject racism in all its forms,” he said in a statement. “We condemn bullies who seek to harass and silence others. I will continue the tradition of past Idaho governors by supporting our local leaders in their efforts to eradicate hatred and bigotry from our communities.
CNN’s David Close and Wayne Sterling contributed to this report.
