Alperen Şengün made multiple sexist remarks to a female referee during a game earlier this week. Logan Riely / Getty Images
Feb. 7, 2026Updated 8:57 pm EST
OKLAHOMA CITY — Houston Rockets center Alperen Şengün apologized on Saturday after repeatedly calling a female referee “a b—-” earlier this week, which resulted in his ejection against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. Şengün said he went to the referee after the game to apologize for his actions.
Saturday’s apology came in Şengün’s first time commenting on the altercation he had with referee Jenna Reneau during the Rockets’ 114-93 loss to the Celtics.
During the fourth quarter of the loss, Şengün got upset after not getting a foul call on a shot at the rim and made the explicit comments to Reneau. She reacted by immediately ejecting the Rockets’ star center.
The encounter almost immediately went viral on social media, and Şengün said he sought out Reneau to apologize for what he said. He called his actions “immature” and something he hopes to learn from.
“It was just the heat of the moment, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t have said,” Şengün said following the Rockets’ 112-106 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday. “I felt bad about it. Right after the game, I went to (the referees’) locker room. I (shook her) hand and apologized to her. That was immature by me. I should know better.”
Şengün recorded his second triple-double of the season on Saturday. He finished with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
“Sometimes, you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” Şengün said. “It just happened in the heat of the moment. Then, she understood, and it was good on both ends.”
Feb 8, 2026
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