Macy Petty, an NCAA volleyball player and leader of Young Women for America, has issued a strong call to action, urging 2024 presidential candidates to defend the dignity of women in sports. Petty’s impassioned plea comes amidst growing concerns over the NCAA’s policies regarding transgender athletes competing in women’s sports. She points to the recent case of Blaire Fleming, a male athlete leading the San Jose State University women’s volleyball team, as a prime example of the NCAA’s failure to prioritize the safety and fairness of female athletes.
Petty argues that the NCAA is recklessly disregarding women’s concerns and creating an unfair playing field by allowing biological males to compete against women. She highlights that Fleming’s superior biological advantage gives him a clear edge in the sport, putting female athletes at a disadvantage. The situation is further compounded by the fact that Fleming’s teammate, Brooke Slusser, was not informed that he is a biological male, raising concerns about informed consent and potential safety risks.
Petty’s concerns are echoed by other female athletes, organizations, and elected officials. Twenty-three U.S. senators have urged NCAA President Charlie Baker to prevent men from competing in women’s sports, but their pleas have been met with inaction. Baker’s response to the Senate, citing a desire to align with other governing bodies’ policies and relying on state regulations, has been widely criticized for its lack of concrete action and its reliance on a system that is demonstrably failing to protect female athletes.
Petty highlights that the NCAA’s policies have created a situation where schools are essentially forced to choose between upholding the safety and fairness of their female athletes or potentially losing earnings, records, and tournament appearances. This effectively forces schools to knowingly place female athletes in harm’s way. She argues that the NCAA’s inaction is unacceptable and that women’s voices in college sports deserve to be heard. The NCAA, she insists, needs to take responsibility for the dangerous and unfair environment it has created and implement policies that prioritize the safety and fairness of female athletes.
