2016 olympics

U.S. Women’s Basketball Coach: ‘We’re Living in a Trumpian Era of Sexism’

Tell 'em, Geno.
Tell ‘em, Geno. Photo: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

The Republican presidential nominee, much like the Olympic Games, has some issues when it comes to women. And, if you ask the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball coach, the two facts are not unrelated. In an interview this week, coach Geno Auriemma told reporters that the atmosphere created by the Trump campaign is just as bad for women’s sports as it is for women voters.

After the U.S. women’s team crushed Serbia 110-84 in the finals, a reporter told Auriemma, “People have been asking about whether the dominance of the USA team is bad for the game, but that’s not being said on the men’s side. What are your thoughts on that ?”

Auriemma replied, “We live in that Trumpian era where it’s okay to be sexist and degrade people that are good, just because they’re the opposite sex. We are what we are. We’re never going to apologize for being that good. We’re never going to apologize for setting a standard that other people aspire to achieve.”

He went on to point out: “These are Olympians. They’re supposed to play at a high level. They’re professionals, they’re supposed to put on a show, they’re supposed to entertain. So, what are we supposed to do? Just go out there and win by a little? We’re not bad for women’s basketball. What’s bad for women’s basketball is when nobody’s great.”

U.S. Women’s Coach Condemns Sexist ‘Trump Era’