Payton McNabb’s VolleyBall dreams Shattered by Transgender Opponent

[Social Media]

 

At just 17 years old, Payton McNabb’s dreams of becoming a college athlete were shattered during a volleyball game that would forever alter her life. A ball spiked by a transgender opponent struck her in the head, resulting in severe injuries that derailed her athletic future. Now 19, McNabb is using her story to champion the rights of female athletes in a documentary titled *"Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy Into Triumph,"* created by the Independent Women’s Forum.  

 

“If my story can in any way help prevent this from happening to at least just one woman or girl, then it was all worth it,” McNabb told *The Post.*  

The incident took place in 2022 during a high school volleyball game at Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy, North Carolina. McNabb and her teammates were aware of the transgender athlete on the opposing team but felt powerless to express their concerns. “We never thought we would ever be put in this position to begin with,” she said. “I didn’t know one person who agreed with [a transgender athlete competing against us] on my team, but we didn’t know what to do.”  

 

What began as a routine match turned devastating when the opposing player delivered a spike that hit McNabb’s head, knocking her unconscious for 30 seconds. As the gym fell silent, McNabb was rushed off the court with what initially appeared to be a concussion, neck injury, and two black eyes.  

“It was 100% avoidable, if only my rights as a female athlete had been more important than a man’s feelings,” McNabb reflected.  

 

The full extent of her injuries unfolded over the following weeks. Diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, a brain bleed, partial paralysis, and permanent vision loss on her right side, McNabb also faced memory loss, confusion, and debilitating headaches. Her mother, Pamela McNabb, expressed deep regret, saying, “The guilt Payton’s father and I carry is heavy. At the time, we weren’t allowed to speak up. We couldn’t say, ‘No, she’s not playing against a boy, it’s dangerous.’”  

 

A lifelong athlete, McNabb was devastated to miss her senior volleyball season. “I had the hopes and dreams of playing college softball and I had the opportunities too, but my injury set me back, and it didn’t end up working out,” she said. “I was really depressed.”  

 

The new documentary offers a raw and emotional account of McNabb’s journey, featuring footage of the incident and interviews with her family, who speak publicly for the first time. Her mother’s message in the film is clear: “I would never, ever let her play today if I knew what I know now. Pull your kid. Don’t play. It is not worth what has happened to her to happen to anybody else’s child.”  

 

Despite her ordeal, McNabb chose to channel her experience into advocacy. In April 2023, at age 17, she testified before the North Carolina General Assembly in support of the Fairness in Women’s Sports Bill. Though stepping into the spotlight was outside her comfort zone, McNabb felt compelled to speak out for future generations. “I thought about this happening to my younger sister or, if I have kids one day, my daughter, and I seriously just cannot accept that at all,” she said.  

 

Shortly after her testimony, North Carolina enacted legislation banning transgender athletes from competing in female sports at the middle school, high school, and college levels.  

 

McNabb’s story has become a rallying cry for many, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of preserving fairness and safety in women’s sports. Her courage in turning personal tragedy into a movement for change ensures her voice will resonate far beyond the volleyball court.

 

 

Based on a report by NYP 2024-12-19

 

 

 

[Cryingdick]

The world can always use another Riley Gaines.