Payton McNabb’s dreams of becoming a collegiate athlete were shattered in one devastating moment during a high school volleyball match.
On September 1, 2022, Payton’s team faced an opponent with a male player claiming to be female. A spike from this transgender competitor struck Payton in the head and neck, leaving her unconscious on the gym floor, as reported by The Western Journal.
Her mother, Pamela McNabb, shared the heartbreaking details in an opinion piece for Fox News.
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“My daughter, Payton, was struck in the head and neck by a spike from a transgender-identifying male on the opposing team, causing her to lose consciousness and lay in a fencing position on the gym floor,” she wrote.
The injury led to life-altering consequences for the once-promising athlete. Payton was diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, leaving her partially paralyzed on her right side. She struggles with vision, speech, and basic motor functions.
Before the injury, Payton was a standout athlete with aspirations to play softball in college. As her mother recounted, she battles daily to relearn basic tasks.
“Seemingly overnight, Payton began to struggle with everything. She suffered from debilitating head and neck pain, couldn’t drive, and had to be assisted in school as she worked to relearn basic cognitive processes.”
Pamela described the fear and frustration her daughter faces. “She had gone from excelling at everything she ever did to struggling to brush her own hair. All of her hopes and dreams, all of her hard work in the classroom and on sports teams, all of the sacrifices she made to chase her dream of playing softball past high school — all of it was gone.”
Two years ago today, my life was changed forever because my rights and safety were deemed less important than a man’s feelings and false reality.
I will always continue to fight the good fight for all the girls and women who deserve better pic.twitter.com/TLpzCKryU6
— Payton McNabb (@paytonmcnabb_) September 2, 2024
Despite her injuries, Payton fought to return to the softball field. However, the physical pain and limitations have made it impossible for her to perform at the same level.
Her mother detailed the challenges: “Her leg would tremble while she sat behind the plate as the team’s catcher, and I would sit behind her, watching as tears streamed down her face from the pain. She couldn’t steal bases anymore because her bad leg would fold up under her, and she could only slide with her gloves in her hands, so she had something to focus on.”
This tragedy highlights the dangers posed by allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. Pamela warned other parents: “Do not let my family’s experience become your own. Pull your child from the game.”
Her call to action extends beyond parents. With 24 states still permitting males to compete against females in high school athletics, Pamela pleaded for lawmakers to protect young women.
“These policies endanger our girls’ safety and well-being.
“If these states refuse to step up and protect young women from experiencing the harms Payton has suffered, parents must step up in their place.”
Payton McNabb’s story is a sobering reminder of the real consequences of these policies. The injuries she suffered were preventable. It’s time to prioritize fairness and safety in women’s sports before more young women endure the same fate.
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