WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) applauds the brave decision of the University of Nevada’s female volleyball players, who voted to stand in solidarity with four other collegiate teams in forfeiting their scheduled match against San Jose State University, which rosters a male athlete on the women’s volleyball team. IWF calls on University of Nevada coaches and administrators to recognize the decision of its female athletes to stand up for the fairness and physical safety they are owed in their sport.
In forfeiting the match, these young women are choosing to sacrifice their collegiate records and the benefits, including financial benefits, that accompany successful athletic seasons. The stand taken by University of Nevada women’s volleyball players, independent of their coaches and administrators, represents a growing movement of female athletes who are tired of falsely legitimizing male athletes competing in women’s category events.
“These female athletes refusing to participate in an inherently unfair competition are heroines. They are standing up for truth, for women’s rights, and to protect the interests and dreams of future generations of girls. It’s appalling that the university is denigrating these women. Shame on them for prioritizing men’s rights over women’s rights,” said Carrie Lukas, president of Independent Women’s Forum.
“Rather than the NCAA ensuring fair play with sex-based sports to keep women’s collegiate sports female, athletes, some seniors in their final season, are giving up matches to take a stand once and for all and to send a message that this cowardliness from the NCAA will no longer be tolerated. We applaud them, but are disheartened it has gotten to this point,” said Adriana McLamb, Independent Women’s Forum spokeswoman and recruiting coordinator to aspiring collegiate women’s volleyball players in Orlando, Florida. McLamb joined Fox & Friends First this morning to praise the University of Nevada female volleyball players for sticking up for themselves when the NCAA, their school administrators, and coaches are against them.
“These girls have devoted their entire lives to the sport they love and have reached one of the highest levels of achievement to compete at the collegiate level. Now, all of that work is being diminished by the NCAA and University of Nevada administrators who are forcing their female athletes to put their physical safety on the line or forfeit. This discrimination must stop. Good for the University of Nevada female volleyball players for standing strong in the face of their own negligent administrators,” said Payton McNabb, Independent Women’s Forum ambassador and former high school volleyball player who suffered permanent injuries after a male athlete on the opposing women’s volleyball team spiked her in the face.
“The ACLU responded to empowered women asking for a women-only league by promising to sue the school and the state. Women ask for safety, and social justice organizations turn their back on them. Women’s sports are legal, period. I look forward to the day when sane administrators realize this and do what’s right for this country instead of marching blindly wherever progressivism leads,” said May Mailman, Director of Independent Women’s Law Center.
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