“Classless piece of shit,” “a f*cking idiot,” “slut.” These were the heinous comments made about 20-year-old Louisiana State University basketball player Angel Reese. Reese was viscerally torn apart on social media due to some traditional on-court trash talk; she had waved her hand in front of her face, pointing at her finger and taunting Iowa University's Caitlin Clark. Reese received tons of backlash for this. Meanwhile Clark, Reese’s white counterpart, did the same thing in the eighth round of the NCAA tournament. When Clark threw up the signature “you can’t see me” taunt made popular by wrestler John Cena, she was applauded for her spunk and tenacity. ESPN even made a segment entitled “Caitlin’s Clapbacks” for the duration of the tournament.

Seeing this bright, young athlete be called out of her name, speaks volumes about the treatment of Black women in this space. This type of criticism has happened frequently to other Black women athletes at various skill levels. Black women are held to a different standard than white women in various aspects. When a white woman is being expressive mid-game, they are looked at as exuding their passion; however, in the same breath, Black women are considered aggressive, confrontational and classless.

Although the majority of the stories brought to the mainstream media revolve around Black American athletes, Black women in Canadian sports are not short of this experience. Many young Black Canadian athletes face the same discrimination Reese had to endure and tend not to make it to the public eye.

Téa Croft is a volleyball player who attended St. Mary’s University. As a skilled player, Croft went out for the college’s varsity team. After dealing with multiple negative encounters on her team, she left and moved on to attend a new school. Croft was greeted with immense support and love from her coaches when she joined St. Mary’s; however, she noticed changes in the treatment she received from her head coach after finally getting settled at the school and on her team. Croft was the only Black member on her team, and she endured the same hardships as the previous Black girls who made the cut. Every year, a new young Black recruit was picked and used as a portrayal of diversity. Croft was faced with racial comments from fellow first-year athletes, and the issue was never truly addressed or taken seriously by the institution. This continued throughout her second semester of school.

Croft found that she was held to a different standard than her white counterparts, and the expectations and punishments were harsher. “The stands were full, and it was a close game,” says Croft, recalling a time in which she experienced differential treatment. “The ref made a bad call, and the entire bench went wild. The ref looked back at us and told us to calm down and not to scream.”

The coach pulled Croft aside and asked her to apologize to the referee. “My coach told me we don’t tolerate that disrespect on this team and that after the game was over, I needed to apologize.” Croft was confused as the whole bench was yelling at the referee over this call and didn't say more or less than her other teammates. Being ostracized by her coach placed a strain on the relationship Croft had with him, which ultimately impacted her experience on the team and, at times, love for the sport.

Coaches and team leaders play an immense role in the lives of Black athletes. Having leaders who can support their players and understand the hardships they face on and off the court is extremely important. Coaches and leaders are a big part of defining the overall team experience. The 2022 Canadian Women and Sport Rally Report states that less than half of coaches from various national, territorial and provincial sports organizations report receiving any form of training on topics related to keeping girls and young women in sports, such as gender equity, body image and mental health. The data reflects sports leaders who manage girls ranging from as young as 6 to 18 and places a focus on understanding how these organizations take on the responsibility of delivering sport. Sixty percent of sports administrators and board members surveyed from the various sport groups have also reported that they have yet to receive any sort of training on anti-racism and cultural inclusion.

Brianna Timothy, a varsity rugby player, noticed a major part of the discrimination she faced regarded expectations around athleticism. Stereotypes point to Black men and women as “naturally athletic and skilled.” This perception of strength also allows for Black women to be pushed to limits that go beyond what they can handle. Timothy played on two college varsity teams in Ontario, and she experienced sexism just as much as she experienced racism. Rugby is a sport dominated by men, and women's rugby is still growing, but the sexist undertones of this game still affect women players.

“I feel like we were taken less seriously when it comes to sports,” says Timothy. “I remember getting our uniforms, and they were giving us the remainder of what was left over from the men's teams.” Timothy was walking around in an XXL t-shirt, and nothing was done about it. Meanwhile, the men's teams were getting new uniforms yearly. Both of the teams Timothy played for failed to allocate the best resources to the team, and the lack of advocacy for the women rugby players resulted in the women’s team being canceled at both colleges.

The 2022 Canadian Women and Sport Rally Report also notes that 37 percent of sports leaders tend not to consider gender when they determine where resources should be allocated. As noted in the report, this can be very problematic, as most often, gender bias takes heed and benefits men. Using a gender equity lens helps sports leaders make decisions that result in more equitable outcomes.

Jada Mofford, a varsity college basketball player, also attended St. Mary's University and endured the same issues on her team. Mofford was often held to higher expectations than her other teammates and found that the women's team was not valued the same way the men's team was. “This year and in previous years, the women's basketball team has been doing better than the men in terms of standing,” Mofford says. “We did get good recognition, but in terms of public support, there was a gap.” While the men's team had large turnouts to their games regardless of how well they were doing in the season, the women's team had less support for their games even though they were excelling.

For a woman who has faced multiple negative encounters, the love for the game fades away. “It sucks, but I feel like I genuinely lost my love for playing volleyball,” says Croft.

Like Reese, the stories from Croft, Timothy and Mofford intertwine to expose a deeply rooted bias that tarnishes the experiences of Black women athletes in Canada. A shocking lack of training in and actualizing of intersectionality, anti-racism, and gender and racial equity are evident in all levels of sports. Croft, Timothy and Mofford’s journeys further amplify the urgent need for change. These stories reverberate with a common refrain––the love for the game can wither when met with discrimination. The path forward demands collective action, as sports leaders, institutions and fans alike unite to rewrite the narrative and create a truly inclusive and empowering arena where Black women athletes can thrive.

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