WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump tonight recognized Independent Women Ambassador Payton McNabb at the Joint Session Presidential Address to Congress, as part of his commitment to stand with women and preserve women’s privacy, safety, and equal opportunity. McNabb turned tragedy into triumph after suffering a devastating injury, caused by a trans-identifying male athlete on an opposing women’s sports team.
President Trump to Payton McNabb during his address:
I signed an executive order to ban men from playing in women’s sports. Three years ago, Payton McNabb was an all-star high school athlete, one of the best, preparing for a future in college sports, but when her girls volleyball match was invaded by a male, he smashed the ball so hard in Payton’s face causing traumatic brain injury, partially paralyzing her right side, and ending her athletic career. It was a shot like she’s never seen before. She’s never seen anything like it. Payton is here tonight in the gallery and Payton, from now on, schools will kick the men off the girls teams or they will lose all federal funding.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:
“I have had the pleasure of meeting Payton – she is incredibly smart, strong and brave. Both she and her family have been through the unthinkable. Democrats defending young women suffering from traumatic brain injuries as a result of trans athletes is why they will continue losing every election.” – Meghan McCain on X
“Everyone who claims this issue doesn’t matter, is made up, isn’t significant, or any other such nonsense should have to make their case to Payton McNabb’s face. She, and so many other brave young women like her, deserve so much better.” – Former United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on X
“After a biological male volleyball player injured Payton McNabb, robbing her of the chance to play collegiate sports, she decided to dedicate herself to protecting other women from a similar fate. Two years later, McNabb will be one of President Donald Trump’s guests at Tuesday night’s joint address to Congress to highlight his executive order withholding federal funding from schools that continue to allow biological males to compete against females.” – The Daily Signal: ‘It Happened to Me for a Reason’: Female Athlete Injured by Male Competitor to Be Honored by Trump
“While she continues her studies in college, McNabb told the Caller that she is working with the Independent Women’s Forum on getting legislation passed at the state level banning biological men from women’s sports to help support [President Trump’s] executive order.” – Daily Caller: EXCLUSIVE: Trump Invites Volleyball Player Seriously Hurt By Trans Opponent To Be Special Guest At Address To Congress
“Trump pointed to [McNabb’s] story multiple times while campaigning in 2024. The issue resonated nationwide, and in McNabb’s home state the two-term Republican president carried 78 of 100 counties on the way to defeating Democrat Kamala Harris by 183,048 votes of 5,699,141 cast.” – The Center Square: McNabb, sister to be guests of president, his wife at State of the Union
“The former high school athlete is a vocal advocate for keeping trans-identifying males out of female sports. She previously said she hopes that by speaking up, she can prevent another tragedy like hers from happening again.” – The Daily Wire: Volleyball Player Injured By Trans-Identifying Player To Be Guest At Trump’s Joint Address
“McNabb was 17 when a ball spiked by a trans opponent with force struck her in the face, threw her to the ground and left her unconscious while she played a volleyball match in September 2022. She has since campaigned to keep trans athletes out competing in women’s sports, earning herself two presidential honors.” – Daily Mail: Who is Payton McNabb? Meet the ex-high school volleyball player set to join Trump at his Congress address
“Payton McNabb, a former high school girls volleyball player who was severely injured when a transgender opponent spiked a ball in her face, will be one of President Donald Trump’s guests at his joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.” – Fox News: Payton McNabb, HS volleyball player severely injured by trans opponent, to be at Trump’s speech to Congress
“On Tuesday, President Donald Trump will hold his first joint address in front of Congress since returning to the Oval Office. Among those in the crowd will be 19-year-old Payton McNabb, the former high school volleyball player who was severely injured by a transgender opponent.” OutKick: Trump Invites Volleyball Player Severely Hurt By Trans Opponent To Be Special Guest At Address To Congress
“As Townhall covered, McNabb was 17 years old when a male athlete spiked a volleyball in her face so hard that she lost consciousness. Townhall reported on this disturbing incident when it occurred. McNabb was left with brain damage and paralysis on the right side of her body. She gave up on her dream of going to college on a volleyball scholarship, and now faces difficulty walking.” – Townhall: We Know Who One of Trump’s Guests Will Be for His Joint Address to Congress
PAYTON MCNABB BACKGROUND:
In September 2022, McNabb, a three-sport athlete and then high school senior, was permanently injured when a male volleyball player on the opposing women’s team spiked a ball at her head. The hit left McNabb laying unconscious and in a fencing position on the court. The injury caused permanent paralysis and other cognitive issues that doctors say may never resolve.
Shortly after the incident, McNabb began using her voice to call for change, joining Independent Women as an ambassador to speak out alongside Riley Gaines and other female athletes. Since then, McNabb has become a prominent advocate in the fight for women’s sports, including her recent visits to the nation’s capital to join President Trump for the signing of his Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports Executive Order and to speak at a women’s sports roundtable led by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
McNabb’s story continues to drive support for women’s sports, standing as a testament to the tragic consequences of denying women and girls the right to single-sex athletics. Independent Women Features, the grassroots storytelling and original journalism project of Independent Women, recently highlighted McNabb’s story in a documentary — “Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy Into Triumph” — featuring original raw footage of the spike to McNabb’s head and first-time interviews with her parents and sister Avery, who will also be joining McNabb at this Joint Session Presidential Address to Congress.
Watch Payton’s Story here.
McNabb’s story served as a touchpoint throughout the 2024 election cycle, as President Trump referenced McNabb’s story multiple times on the campaign trail to showcase the gravity of what female athletes are facing and underscore his commitment to Stand With Women.
As an ambassador for Independent Women, McNabb continues to expose the harms of gender ideology and the critical need for equal athletic opportunity. McNabb has been instrumental in providing testimony and support as Independent Women has advanced legislation in states both to define sex-based words and codify protections for women’s sports. She toured the country as a part of the Our Bodies Our Sports “Take Back Title IX Summer Bus Tour”, serving as an Independent Women ambassador and speaking in front of thousands of Americans, including aspiring, young female athletes.
Learn more about Independent Women Features’ storytelling campaign to fight for fairness in women’s sports, which has amplified the stories of other female athletes who have felt compelled to lend their voice to the fight to save women’s sports and end the discrimination of women here.
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