The American University women’s basketball team celebrated their pride on Thursday, Feb. 5. This game showed LGBTQ+ pride and Eagle pride, with head coach Gebbia winning her 151 game, becoming the winningest coach in AU women’s basketball programs history.
Spectators were greeted at the door by AU Cheerleaders dawning rainbow bows and handing out pride flags.
The first 100 guests received pride flags and cupcakes courtesy of AU PRIDE.
AU PRIDE is a student run organization that supports LGBTQ+ students. Rossana Lopez, their Women with Pride Coordinator said, “The main goal of AU pride is to provide a community for LGBTQ+ identifying students on campus. Through our events and programming we try to serve a need in the community.”
With the games turnout it was clear that students at AU have a community to rely on.
Excitement and camaraderie for the team was felt throughout Bender Arena as students cheered during the game and into half time where some of D.C.’s hottest up and coming drag queens performed and AU PRIDE graced the court for photos with AU’s Spirit Program and Clawed Z Eagle.
Team member, Ivy Bales, said, ”I think tonight was really fun because of the crowd especially. There were a lot of students and fans that came out to support and I definitely fed off of that energy and I think the rest of the team did too.”
The eagles fought for a well-deserved win, scoring 54-48 over the Bucknell Bison.
Bursting with pride, the Eagles celebrated their big win and their coach’s new record.
Eagle pride and LGBTQ+ pride go hand in hand for the women’s basketball team.
“Everyone deserves the same human rights. That’s what we preach, that’s what we tell our players, recruits,and people that come here,” said coach Gebbia, “That’s kind of how we roll, so if you don’t want to be a part of that then that’s on you.”
“This is who we are, we believe in equal, equal rights for all.”
Coach Gebbia is a true example of upholding pride.
Assistant coach, Nikki Flores, discussed with me the ways in which AU women’s basketball has fostered and supported her sense of pride. “Since I’ve been here she’s been such a supporter of me and who I am and me being prideful being a member of the LGBTQ+ community,” she said about coach Gebbia.
“I think the support from Meg has been really great for my growth because at first I was a little hesitant about being open about my sexuality with recruits or just in general on campus and with administration,” said Flores, “I definitely struggled with that because you never know who you’re going to make uncomfortable.”
“Now I’m like ‘if who I am makes you uncomfortable then I’m not going to apologize for that.’ That’s where I’m at now.”
The staff and players have many outlets for inclusivity. Flores works hard to be a support system for the team saying,”I am comfortable in my own skin and I try to exude that to them so if they did have questions or they weren’t sure that they feel like they can have someone to talk to.”
Flores discussed the team being inclusive by holding games of recognition and inclusion, “Where having a black history game on saturday, I know the whole patriot league is doing it but we as a staff pushed to have a back history month game because we find it important.”
“I love when we do things or wear things that show we’re anti-racist and support inclusion.”
The team sports shirts for many causes throughout the season such as, women’s history month, put women’s sports on T.V., and “This Game Is No Secret.”
Flores shares, “We always ask our players ‘do you want to do this, Do you know what it means.
“We always have that dialogue. We try to be vocal in that sense, in what we warm up in or what we do or wear or the games we support.”
AU women’s basketball Pride Night was a success and the team is taking action to support many causes and be inclusive to all.
“The turnout was great, the crowd was fantastic, it was so nice to see that and I know our players were jazzed about it just to support and a couple of our players who are a part of the community, they just enjoy being a part of something like that’” said Flores.
In Flores’ words, “This game alone says a lot,” about inclusion in AU women’s basketball. This is clear in the crowd, coaches and inclusive practices within and outside of this team.