A transgender basketball player was notably missing from a California girls' playoff game on Saturday, following a week of intense national media scrutiny and debate. The athlete, who had spearheaded San Francisco Waldorf's girls' basketball team to a 9-8 record and a playoff berth against Cornerstone Christian School, was not present for the match. San Francisco Waldorf ultimately lost to Cornerstone 56-30 without the transgender athlete. The reason for the athlete's absence remains undisclosed, and San Francisco Waldorf has not responded to media inquiries.
While several protesters gathered outside the game at Cornerstone's campus with signs displaying anti-trans messages, these signs were not brought into the gymnasium once it became apparent the athlete wasn't present.
This incident follows a previous controversy involving the same athlete during the fall volleyball season, where their participation on Waldorf's girls' team led to a playoff forfeit by Stone Ridge Christian. However, Cornerstone Christian had publicly committed to playing against the transgender athlete in the basketball playoff game, sparking national media attention and highlighting the ongoing clash between California and the Trump administration regarding transgender inclusion in women's sports.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) is currently under investigation by the Trump administration's Department of Education and Office of Civil Rights for directing schools to permit transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports, in direct opposition to the president's executive order. This executive order threatens to withhold federal funding from institutions that allow transgender athletes to compete against girls and women. California public schools receive a substantial amount of federal funding, making this a significant point of contention.
The CIF maintains its commitment to adhering to California state law, which has been in place since 2014, allowing students to participate in sports according to their gender identity. However, recent legislative efforts in California seek to overturn this law, further complicating the issue. Multiple bills have been introduced in 2025 aiming to restrict transgender athletes' participation in girls' sports.
