It is ‘dangerous’ to let trans people compete

The mother of a Division I volleyball player who will compete against a male athlete this season said the NCAA is threatening her daughter’s safety by allowing a transgender person to compete against women.

“They worked so hard for this, and to have that taken away, to play with a male athlete, is unthinkable,” April Chainey, a mother from Idaho, told the Daily Signal. “It’s unconscionable that the NCAA would allow them to be dangerous and have an unfair advantage.”

Male biological volleyball player Blaire Fleming, born Brayden, according to Reduxx, led San Jose State University in California to an undefeated season.

In Thursday’s match against the University of San Francisco, Fleming had 11 kills, two aces and two blocks. The San Jose Spartans defeated the San Francisco Dons 3-0, improving the Spartans’ season record to 7-0.

Fleming is a 6’1″ junior. The volleyball player transferred from Coastal Carolina University to South Carolina ahead of the 2021-22 season. In May 2022, the Save Women’s Sports Act went into effect in South Carolina, banning biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

California law allows athletes who identify as transgender to compete on teams based on their gender identity.

Chainey’s daughter worked diligently to reach the Division 1 level, the mother said, but that’s not why she decided to speak out.

“This is much bigger than her, her Nevada team or the Mountain West Conference,” Chainey said. “It comes down to the NCAA not creating a safe, fair and equal playing field for our women athletes in college sports.”

Men have a biological advantage over women in volleyball, which puts women at risk, she said.

For example, high school volleyball player Payton McNabb suffered a concussion and neck injury in November 2022 after a transgender opponent threw the ball at her face at an estimated 76 mph.

“I know firsthand how difficult it is for women volleyball players to compete against a male athlete who not only has a clear physical advantage, but also poses a physical threat,” McNabb told the Daily Signal. “It’s disappointing to see the NCAA once again sacrifice safety and put the burden on elite female athletes and say, ‘Enough is enough.’”

Chainey fears that the young women who play against Fleming could suffer life-changing injuries similar to those suffered by McNabb.

“I’m afraid for every player who has to play against them because there’s a higher potential risk,” Chainey said. “The ball moves faster. It’s stronger. Every guy is biologically bigger, faster and stronger.”

The men’s volleyball net is a foot higher to compensate for men’s increased speed, jumping height and power. Even men would be more likely to suffer concussions if they played volleyball against each other with a net that was a similar height to women’s, according to Marshi Smith of the Independent Women’s Sports Council.

“When you lower the net and allow a man to play against women who have lower bone density, who are actually more likely to get a concussion than men in general,” Marshi said, “you increase the risk of injury on impact, and so it becomes a really dangerous situation.”

San Jose State was scheduled to play two games on Sept. 14 at the Santa Clara tournament, but an opponent, Southern Utah University, canceled the game.

According to OutKick, Southern Utah has neither confirmed nor denied that Fleming’s transgender status was the reason for the cancellation.

The Southern Utah women’s volleyball team inspired Chainey to speak out.

“These poor girls were forced to make very uncomfortable decisions that should be made by the leadership,” Chainey said. “The NCAA put them in this position. They shouldn’t even have to make these kinds of decisions.”

Chainey is devastated that the NCAA is threatening the volleyball players’ careers by forcing them to lose to a team that features a biological male player. The NCAA did not immediately respond to The Daily Signal’s request for comment.

“I’m sad to see these players risk everything they’ve worked so hard for,” she said. “It’s infuriating that the NCAA would allow this. My daughter wants to go on and go overseas and play internationally. This could potentially end her career.”

Chainey had never spoken to a reporter before, but said she felt called to use her voice to raise awareness about the NCAA continuing to force female athletes to compete against men.

“I talked to parents this week. I talked to players this week,” she said. “And you know what? Everybody’s afraid to speak out. I feel like the more people speak out, the less courage it takes for the next person to speak out. And then eventually, there’s a tipping point where it all goes the other way. That’s why I’m putting my name out there, officially.”

“Being afraid to speak up is not freedom,” Chainey continued. “Telling the truth is not evil, and being coerced is not consent. And the NCAA provides an environment in which all of that can flourish.”

The NCAA has failed to ensure fair and safe sports for women on the field and in the locker room, she added.

“I’m not against transgender athletes,” Chainey said. “I’m not against transgender athletes at all. I’m for female athletes being able to compete on a safe, fair and equal playing field. And that’s something the NCAA has failed to do time and time again.”

Women’s sport is in danger, Chainey said.

“This is the future of women’s sports,” the mother said, “and a fair, safe and level playing field is at stake.”