Discussion on sexism in sports ignited by Rebecca Lobo incident – NBC Connecticut

Former UConn women’s basketball star and WNBA player Rebecca Lobo recently took to social media to share a disturbing incident that occurred at her son’s basketball tournament. Lobo, who coaches her 15-year-old son’s team, recounted a comment made by a referee during a discussion about a missed foul call. The referee allegedly told Lobo, “this is a grown man’s game, this isn’t a women’s game.”

The post sparked a conversation about sexism in sports, with many coming to Lobo’s defense, including her former UConn teammate Jennifer Rizzotti. Lobo used the opportunity to encourage her followers to watch the WNBA, highlighting the momentum and interest in women’s sports.

Experts like Professor Susan Cahn of the University of Buffalo weighed in on the incident, noting that while there has been progress in the representation of women in sports, incidents like this show that sexism is still prevalent in the industry.

Darren Gilbert, director of CT Take Over, an AAU basketball program, emphasized the importance of fair treatment regardless of gender in sports. He also pointed out the decline in the quality of referees in travel basketball tournaments, attributing it to conflicts with coaches and parents.

While Lobo was not available for an interview, her team confirmed that the incident took place in Pennsylvania. The incident serves as a reminder that despite advancements in women’s sports, there is still work to be done to combat sexism in the industry.