Volleyball season is back, and it seems to be stirring up more discussion than ever. The previous NCAA volleyball season saw quite a bit of politicization, particularly as the NCAA and USA Volleyball allowed male athletes to dominate the Mountain West Conference in women’s Division One. As someone who has played for USAV myself, I can’t help but feel a sense of frustration over the treatment of female athletes, which feels all too recognizable. It’s almost like a repeated storyline, really. So, when they rolled out their new “gender policy,” I thought—I mean, perhaps unsurprisingly—it was, if anything, even more disrespectful than before.
Back in February, when they failed to protect female athletes from discrimination, it got tough enough that presidential intervention was necessary. President Trump had to step in, directing the Secretary of State to ensure that Olympic governing bodies consider biological gender over “gender identity.”
After the USOPC clarified that USAV is a National Governance Agency, the latter released a new gender competition policy to align with Trump’s executive order. Essentially, USAV athletes are now expected to compete according to the gender listed on their birth certificates.
At a quick glance, it might seem like a step forward. But honestly, it’s inconsistent with the executive order because, well, some states let people change their birth certificates. Plus, it misses the point of the whole initiative. USA Volleyball doesn’t even acknowledge sex; they prefer this Orwellian phrasing of “sex assigned at birth.” Their “gender competition policy” treats such fundamental aspects of humanity like they’re as flexible as your favorite color. To them, “gender” is merely a label, dutifully assigned. While they say athletes can “change their gender profiles anytime,” that doesn’t really equate to altering their eligibility.
And let’s not overlook the residual anti-women propaganda still visible on their website, like that documentary trailer discussing birth certificates—ironically, an issue in the new policy itself—or the connections to left-leaning advocacy groups like GLAAD and the TREVOR Project.
Sure, there will likely be fewer men competing in women’s volleyball now, which is a small win. Still, I find it hard to label this a real pro-woman shift at USAV. It’s more of a stubborn stance, downplaying what’s essential for female athletes—who, by the way, are the ones breaking attendance and viewer records in women’s sports.
The agenda against women isn’t new. I experienced it firsthand when I had to play against male athletes during my time in high school volleyball. It was during a crucial point in my recruitment, and the stark disparity in our skills was, frankly, embarrassing. The physical risks were palpable then; we were competing on a net seven inches shorter than the men’s—talk about a significant physical advantage.
From that moment, I began advocating for reforms in women’s sports to enhance protections. It’s disheartening that, after all these years, women continue to be overlooked. A letter to President Penn shouldn’t have to seek so many responses.
Thanks to President Trump, we have clearer guidelines now. He strongly stated on his first day that any attempt to erase biological realities undermines women’s dignity, security, and happiness, making it U.S. policy to recognize only two genders: male and female.
This is central to today’s women’s rights movement—a point USAV seems to ignore completely. As long as they refuse to acknowledge biological sex, they’re stripping us of the respect we deserve.
For female athletes like me, advocacy isn’t ending anytime soon. We will pursue action until our governing body genuinely supports female athletes. We are deserving, whether it’s through Rep. Greg Stutube’s “Protection of Women in Olympic and Amateur Sports Act,” reforming USA Volleyball’s leadership, or even throwing away USOPC membership. We won’t stop until we restore equity and dignity for women’s sports at every level.
