Yolett McPhee-McCuin, aka “Coach Yo,” doesn’t just coach basketball—she commands it. Whether she’s pacing the sidelines, passionately rallying her team, or calling a crucial timeout, her presence is unmistakable. And if you have a problem with that … well, that’s your problem, not hers. 

That’s why when Vanderbilt announcers made some eyebrow-raising remarks about her during the recent SEC showdown, Coach Yo wasn’t about to let it slide. She called out their “disrespectful” comments in true Coach Yo fashion: no filter, no fluff.

The news hit social media like an alarm. Coach Yo tweeted, “The disrespect from Vanderbilt’s tv announcers was classless, unnecessary and uncalled for! I’m truly grateful for my growth in these days and times! So that’s all I’m going to say about it! God Bless!”

Needless to say, fans were quick to rally behind her, but they wondered what exactly went down on air.

Sure, commentators Drew Maddux and Andrew Allegretta gave Coach Yo her flowers for leading Ole Miss to three straight NCAA tournaments. But then they went sideways. “Look, I say this respectfully,” one of them started, sort of giving it away in the beginning itself that nothing said hereon was going to be that.

“She’s done an incredible job. … I can see why some — uh — some of Coach Yo would be an acquired taste. It’s a lot of bombastic motions on the sidelines and all of that sort of stuff. Working the officials, timeouts when you’re up by, what? 15 points. Look, be yourself. Coach how you gonna coach—all of that sort of stuff. But I can see where there would be acquired taste,” he said. And this was following a timeout with under 55 seconds to go. 

It didn’t take rocket science for many to point out that the phrase “acquired taste” stuck out like a sore thumb. The comment felt less like a basketball analysis and more like a critique of her personality. And for what? Coaching with energy? Advocating for her players? Being herself? The backhanded compliment wasn’t lost on anyone, least of all Yolett McPhee-McCuin.

But then again, those familiar with McPhee-McCuin wouldn’t be surprised by her response, now would you? Back in 2024, an Ole Miss reporter for Rivals, Chase Parham, shared a report outlining the financial struggles of women’s basketball for the 2023 fiscal year, with the program losing close to $8.4 million. Needless to say, it made waves and McCuin didn’t sit back and take it quietly.

“I don’t care who’s upset about me saying this, because I’m going to speak the truth. … I’m not going to allow people to make it seem like what we do doesn’t matter. I’m not going to allow people to make it seem like I haven’t earned everything that I’ve gotten. I’m, not going to make it seem like our women are less than,” she stated in her signature no-nonsense style following the team’s 81-70 win vs Florida in late January last year.

That wasn’t just about defending her coaching. It was a powerful message to anyone who would try to downplay her team’s success or the significance of women’s sports in general. Because as she noted, “When I turn on the TV, when I look around, when we go to other places, women’s sports is a real thing. And so I’m going to be the voice for that here. Because our community needs to be better, man.”

Unsurprisingly, Coach Yo’s frustration isn’t an isolated case. It’s part of a larger pattern in women’s basketball where media narratives often scrutinize coaches and players in ways that go beyond the game itself. And LSU’s Kim Mulkey knows this firsthand.

Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin joins a growing movement of media disrespect

In April 2024, a Los Angeles Times column titled ‘UCLA-LSU is America’s Sweethearts vs. Its Basketball Villains’ sparked controversy for its portrayal of the two teams. The article painted UCLA as wholesome and pure, likening them to “milk and cookies,” while labeling LSU as “dirty debutantes” and “Louisiana hot sauce.”

Coach Mulkey didn’t hold back. She called the descriptions unnecessary and questioned why young athletes were being characterized in such a way. “You can criticize coaches all you want,” Mulkey said. “But the one thing I’m not going to let you do, I’m not going to let you attack young people.”

The backlash was immediate. The Los Angeles Times quickly edited the article and issued an apology for the language used, followed by the writer acknowledging that the choice of words was inappropriate. Even UCLA’s head coach, Cori Close, who had initially shared the article, expressed regret and apologized for amplifying the piece.

For women’s basketball coaches, handling criticism is part of the job. But there’s a fine line between critiquing strategy and making it personal. When male coaches show emotion, they’re called “passionate.” When women do the same, they’re labeled “fiery,” “bombastic,” or an “acquired taste.”

Coaches like McPhee-McCuin and Mulkey aren’t just defending themselves—they’re pushing back against a media culture that too often diminishes women in sports. And if you think they’re going to sit quietly and take it, think again.