In a quiet California gymnasium, a routine high school volleyball match became the center of a national debate.
What should have been a normal Friday night contest quickly drew media attention and sparked heated discussions about fairness, safety, and the rights of transgender students. At the heart of it was one teenage athlete simply trying to play the sport she loves.
A girls’ volleyball game between Riverside Poly High and Jurupa Valley High drew nationwide attention when Riverside Poly forfeited rather than compete against a team featuring transgender student AB Hernandez. The match, scheduled for August 15, was canceled by Riverside Poly, with officials calling the decision “disappointing” but necessary to maintain a “safe, positive environment for all student-athletes.”
Parents and advocates quickly noted that the forfeit stemmed from school officials’ decisions, not the players themselves. Riverside school board member Amanda Vickers defended the move, citing a precedent in North Carolina where player Payton McNabb was injured in 2022 while competing against a transgender athlete. “Tonight, the girls of Riverside Poly High School, they’re not going to end up like Payton McNabb,” Vickers said.
AB’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, pushed back at a school board meeting: “You are a board member. You have an oath to protect all children, not just the ones that fit your beliefs. My daughter is not the problem. The problem is external groups using fear and religion to pit parents against each other.”
This wasn’t AB’s first encounter with hostility. Earlier this year, about 30 adults—including some school board members—heckled her at a track meet in Yorba Linda, causing a false start.
AB later told CBS News Los Angeles, “People just see one thing and that’s what you are. They swear I’m like this crazy danger to society. I’m just a normal kid going to school, playing sports.”
Protesters have also targeted AB at postseason events, often wearing “Save Girls Sports” T-shirts, which school officials compared to hate symbols. The controversy has drawn national political attention, with former President Donald Trump posting on Truth Social that he would cut funding for California schools that allow transgender athletes in girls’ sports. Earlier this summer, his administration filed a lawsuit arguing that such policies are unfair to cisgender female athletes.
Despite repeated attempts to block her participation, AB’s family remains steadfast. “My daughter deserves to play, just like every other child,” Nereyda said. Even with Riverside Poly’s forfeit, the Hernandez family is committed to advocating for AB’s right to compete in school sports.
Conclusion
AB Hernandez’s story highlights the complex challenges transgender students face in athletics. Beyond politics and media scrutiny, it is the story of a young person who simply wants to play fairly. Her family’s determination demonstrates courage, resilience, and the importance of inclusion and equality in youth sports.