Former NCAA swimming champion and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines organized a rally on December 4 in support of the Stone Ridge Christian High School girls’ volleyball team in California. The team forfeited a Northern California Division 6 playoff game last month after refusing to compete against an opponent with a male identifying as a female on its team.
The Merced-based high school cited its Christian values and concerns for the safety of its athletes as reasons for forfeiting the match against San Francisco Waldorf. In a statement, school officials explained their decision: “Standing for Biblical truth means more than the outcome of a game. We have a duty and responsibility to care for the health and safety of our athletes.”
At the rally, Gaines praised the team for standing firm in its beliefs and refusing to compete against a male player. She compared the girls’ courage to her own experiences competing against male swimmer Lia Thomas, who competed for the University of Pennsylvania during the 2022 collegiate swimming season.
“We knew having a man undressing next to us in the locker room, standing at six foot four, we knew that was wrong,” Gaines said. “But none of us, including myself, had the courage that these girls on this court today had.”
Gaines has been vocal about her experiences competing against Thomas and her opposition to biological males competing in women’s sports. Speaking at a Donald Trump campaign event in October, Gaines described the emotional toll of being forced to share a locker room with Thomas. “There are no words to describe the violation and the betrayal, the humiliation that we felt,” she said.
Gaines continues to advocate for protecting women’s sports and spaces, emphasizing the need for fairness and safety in competition. Her rally for the Stone Ridge Christian High School team underscores her commitment to standing with female athletes who face these challenges.
