A female high school volleyball player who was injured by a crushing spike to the face from a transgender athlete in September 2022 is speaking out, describing the severe concussion she suffered and saying succinctly, “Allowing biological males to compete against biological females is dangerous.”
Payton McNabb, a senior at Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy, N.C., detailed for the first time the effects of the injury at a press conference Wednesday:
On Sept. 1, 2022, I was severely injured in a high school volleyball game by a transgender athlete on the opposing team. I suffered from a concussion and a neck injury that to this day I am still recovering from. Other injuries I still suffer from today include impaired vision, partial paralysis on my right side, constant headaches, as well as anxiety and depression.
McNabb said she was unable to play volleyball in her senior season. She is currently playing softball, but said she wasn’t able to “perform as well as I have in the past” due to her injuries. “My ability to learn, retain, [and] comprehend has also been impaired,” she said, “and I require accommodations at school for testing because of this.”
RedState‘s Mike Miller reported the incident at the time:
Hiwassee Dam High School competed against Highlands High School in a girls’ volleyball tournament. During the game, an unnamed biological male playing for Highlands spiked a ball over the net and hit an unnamed Hiwassee Dam player directly in the face.
It was a vicious blow:
Many were outraged then, and now McNabb is saying that this never should have happened in the first place:
“I’m here for every biological female athlete behind me. My little sister, my cousins, my teammates. Allowing biological males to compete against biological females is dangerous. I may be the first to come before you with an injury, but if this doesn’t pass I won’t be the last.” [Emphasis mine.]
McNabb was speaking in favor of H574, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which the North Carolina House passed on Wednesday. The bill would prevent biological female athletes from being forced to compete against biological male athletes in school sports designated for females. “My ability to compete was taken from me. Having to play against biological males is not a level playing field and it is most definitely not safe,” she said.
McNabb’s tale is a sad one, and it never should have happened. When you watch the transgender athlete wind up and absolutely drill the ball toward McNabb, you know that allowing this player to compete against females is not only preposterously unfair, it’s incredibly hazardous. Anyone who has daughters can imagine the anger you’d feel if yours were forced to play against males.
Many argue that the issue is about “equality” and “identity,” but that’s garbage. The real issue is about fairness and safety, both of which are thrown out the window when you force females to face off against physically more powerful athletes.
As I’m writing this, I see a Fox News chyron on my computer screen that reads, “GOP FOCUS ON TRANS SPORTS AS 2024 WEDGE ISSUE.” Come on, Fox. This is exactly how the other side frames it–that conservatives are only focusing on this because they think they can get a few more votes. Nothing could be further from the truth.
We’re focusing on males playing against females in competitive sports because it’s dangerous and wrong.
