A Memphis women’s basketball player has been charged with assault after allegedly punching an opponent in the face during a handshake line following a game on Thursday night. Jamirah Shutes, a senior guard for the Tigers, was hit with the criminal charge on Friday morning, according to officials at Bowling Green State University. The incident occurred after a verbal argument between Shutes and BGSU player Elissa Brett following their game in the women’s NIT, which BGSU won 73-60.
Brett crumpled to the court in pain after being punched and was later seen in tears, but the school said she is “recovering and doing well.” It is unclear what sparked the altercation, and a police investigation is ongoing. BGSU added in a statement that it is “conducting its own review” into the matter, emphasizing that “violence is never acceptable,” and its priority is the “health, safety, and support” of its student-athletes.
Neither Shutes nor Brett has publicly commented on the incident. Memphis University released a statement on Friday morning, calling the incident “extremely unfortunate and certainly not consistent with, or representative of, our expectations for our programs and student-athletes.” The school said it is “cooperating fully” with authorities. This incident serves as a reminder that sportsmanship and respect must always be at the forefront of athletic competition.
