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Coeur d’Alene officials express regret, sorrow after Utah team experienced ‘racial hate crimes’

Mar 26, 2024, 1:36 PM

Image: Utah Utes women's basketball coach Lynne Roberts reacts during the third quarter of her team...

Utah Utes women's basketball coach Lynne Roberts reacts during the third quarter of her team's against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane on March 23, 2024. (Photo: Steph Chambers, Getty Images)

(Photo: Steph Chambers, Getty Images)

SALT LAKE CITY 鈥 City officials and the police chief of Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho, held a news conference regarding the racial incidents the Utah women’s basketball team experienced while traveling for the NCAA Tournament.

The tournament games were held in Spokane, but the team鈥檚 initial lodging was in Coeur d’Alene.

Head coach of the team, 聽about the incidents following Utah鈥檚.

Coeur d’Alene mayor speaks on racial incident

On Tuesday morning, city officials held a news conference to offer apologies to the University of Utah women鈥檚 basketball team and provide updates on the investigation.

“On behalf of the city of Coeur d鈥橝lene and all of its communities, I strongly condemn the appalling treatment of the female college athletes who were visiting,” Jim Hammond, mayor of Coeur d’Alene said.

Hammond said he reached out to the President’s Office at the University of Utah but has not heard back yet. He said he would like to speak with the staff and team.

“We express regret and true sorrow that your student-athletes were treated with such disdainful treatment,” he continued. “To the young women who endured racial slurs while visiting, I offer my most sincere apology.”

Investigation update from Coeur d’Alene police chief

Lee White, chief of Coeur d鈥橝lene police, gave a small update on the investigation, though all details will not be reported because it is still considered an open case.

White told media members the crime was first reported on March 21. It was reported that a vehicle drove by the team while they were walking outside and racial slurs were yelled by the occupants.

Investigators are seeking video and witness reports of the incident and encourage anyone with information to聽.

More from Idaho: Using public funds or facilities for gender-affirming care banned by GOP-led Idaho Legislature

Utah WBB NCAA tournament

Head coach Lynne Roberts revealed in her postgame press conference after聽聽that her team experienced racism toward the beginning of their trip that forced them to move hotels.

“Our team hotel was in Coeur d鈥橝lene, Idaho, which is not very close,鈥 Roberts said. “It’s 35-40 minutes, so that was a little strange, but whatever. We had several instances of some kind of racial hate crimes towards our program and it was incredibly upsetting for all of us.”

Roberts detailed what her team experienced calling the incidents 鈥渟hocking鈥 in an athletic and academic setting.

鈥淭here is so much diversity on a college campus and so you just are not exposed to that very often,鈥 Roberts said. 鈥淲hen you are- you have people say, 鈥榤an, I can鈥檛 believe that happened,鈥 but racism is real, and it happens. It鈥檚 awful.鈥

The incidents, which took place Thursday night when the team first arrived for the NCAA Tournament, happened 鈥渁 few times鈥 before the team moved hotels on Friday, March 22, according to Roberts.

Roberts emphasized the incidents were so shocking, that no one knew what to do.

“For our players- whether they are white, black, green- whatever, no one knew how to handle it,” Roberts continued. 鈥淚t was really upsetting for our players and staff to not feel safe in an NCAA Tournament environment. It鈥檚 messed up. We moved hotels.鈥

The NCAA and Gonzaga were on hand to help the Utes get out of a bad, and very uncomfortable situation according to Roberts. However, there is some question as to whether they should have been there in the first place.

More from the tournament:

Despite the quick effort to resolve the issue after it happened, it didn鈥檛 change what was an unfortunate distraction for a team trying to enjoy the postseason.

is a Salt Lake City native who covers University of Utah Athletics for .

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Coeur d’Alene officials express regret, sorrow after Utah team experienced ‘racial hate crimes’