Forfeit CHAOS: High School Teams in Uproar

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Multiple high school girls’ volleyball teams are forfeiting matches rather than compete against a team with a transgender athlete, igniting a heated debate over fairness, safety, and the future of girls’ sports in America.

Story Snapshot

Several California teams have forfeited volleyball matches against Jurupa Valley High due to the presence of a transgender athlete.
Teammate Alyssa McPherson publicly voiced the emotional toll and lost opportunities from these forfeitures.
The controversy highlights ongoing conflict between inclusion policies and concerns for fairness and safety in girls’ sports.
School officials, parents, and board members are deeply divided, referencing past injuries and legal mandates.

Forfeitures Spark Outrage and National Debate

In August 2025, Riverside Poly High School, along with other local teams, forfeited scheduled volleyball matches against Jurupa Valley High School after concerns were raised about AB Hernandez, a transgender athlete on the girls’ team. The situation escalated when Alyssa McPherson, a senior teammate, appeared on Fox News Channel’s “America Reports,” expressing her sadness over missing her final season due to these decisions. The forfeitures have drawn national attention, with conservative audiences questioning whether girls’ sports are being undermined by policies that prioritize inclusion over fairness and safety.

🚨FIVE California girls' volleyball teams have forfeited games because Jurupa Valley High School insists on letting a MALE play on the girls' team.

Girls are losing their chance to compete for this nonsense.

When will @CAgovernor stop this madness?! pic.twitter.com/5pM5XjBYQU

— American Principles Project (@approject) August 25, 2025

Many parents and board members cite serious safety concerns, referencing the 2022 incident in North Carolina where a female athlete suffered a brain injury after being hit by a volleyball spiked by a transgender player. Amanda Vickers, a Riverside Unified School District board member, points to this precedent as justification for the forfeitures. This has fueled the debate about whether current California law, which allows transgender students to participate in sports matching their gender identity, sufficiently protects the interests of female athletes. While some argue these policies erode traditional values and competitive fairness, others say they reflect necessary progress toward inclusion and civil rights.

Stakeholders Clash Over Policy and Values

AB Hernandez and family advocate for empathy and equal treatment, emphasizing Hernandez’s right to play and the emotional toll of public scrutiny. Teammates, led by McPherson, focus on the lost opportunities and the emotional distress caused by repeated forfeitures. Opposing schools and parents maintain that their decisions are about protecting girls’ safety and preserving the integrity of girls’ sports. School officials are caught in the middle, navigating legal obligations, student welfare, and community tensions as media coverage intensifies. The power dynamics reveal deep divisions, with school boards, athletic associations, and media outlets shaping policy and public perception.

As the season progresses, Jurupa Valley continues to face forfeitures, leaving athletes, especially seniors, unable to compete. The ongoing debate not only affects the teams involved but also reverberates nationally, prompting questions about the future of youth sports, the role of gender identity in competition, and the protection of conservative values in local schools. The case could set important precedents for future athletic association policies and legislative efforts regarding transgender participation in sports, with implications for family values and individual rights.

Expert Perspectives and Policy Implications

Industry experts and legal scholars remain divided. Advocates of transgender inclusion argue that excluding athletes like Hernandez is discriminatory and harmful to all students. Opponents, however, raise concerns about safety and fairness, referencing medical and legal precedents. California law supports transgender participation, but local implementation is inconsistent, leading to confusion and conflict. Sports medicine professionals debate the actual risk levels in volleyball compared to other contact sports, with some suggesting the threat is overstated. The polarized coverage by national media outlets, including Fox News and UNILAD, underscores the contentious nature of the issue and the challenge of reconciling competing values.

With the issue still unresolved and ongoing media coverage amplifying tensions, stakeholders await further decisions from school boards and athletic associations. The case highlights the broader struggle between upholding traditional principles in girls’ sports and adapting to evolving inclusion policies—an issue likely to shape future debates at both local and national levels.