Transgender Athlete Absent from Crucial Girls’ Basketball Game
A transgender basketball player was notably missing from a pivotal girls’ playoff game in California on Saturday evening, following a week of intense media scrutiny and debate. The trans athlete had been leading the San Francisco Waldorf girls’ basketball team to a 9-8 record, setting up a playoff clash against Cornerstone Christian School. However, the athlete was absent from the game, resulting in a 56-30 defeat for San Francisco against Cornerstone. No explanation has been provided for the player’s absence, and San Francisco Waldorf has not responded to inquiries from Fox News Digital.
During Saturday’s game at the Cornerstone campus, numerous protesters showed up with signs displaying anti-trans messages. However, the signs were reportedly put away once it became apparent that the trans athlete was not present.
The athlete had previously competed on Waldorf’s girls’ volleyball team, causing a playoff forfeit by Stone Ridge Christian in November. Despite this, Cornerstone Christian had committed to playing against the trans athlete in the basketball game. The news of this matchup garnered national attention, amidst an ongoing clash between the state of California and the Trump administration over transgender inclusion in girls’ sports.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is currently under scrutiny by the Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights for permitting trans athletes to compete as women, defying an executive order from President Trump that threatens to cut federal funding for institutions that allow such competition. The CIF has yet to comment on the situation regarding the upcoming playoff game, but has previously stated its compliance with state legislation allowing trans athletes to participate based on their gender identity.
AB 1266, a law enacted in 2014, gives California students at various educational levels the right to take part in sex-segregated school activities, including sports, based on their gender identity rather than the gender listed on their records.
Pupils should be allowed to participate in teams and competitions and use facilities that align with their gender identity, regardless of the gender recorded in their school records. Despite this, California legislators have put forth a number of bills aimed at overturning this law by 2025. Assembly member Kate Sanchez unveiled one such bill on January 7, with Assembly member Bill Essayli introducing a similar one on February 14. Stay updated on Fox News Digital’s sports coverage through X, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Source: Trans athlete misses girls’ basketball playoff game amid Trump admin probe, protests.
