As OutKick reported Thursday, Vancouver Island University’s women’s basketball team refused to play PACWEST conference opponent Columbia Bible College, claiming the Christian school was creating an unsafe environment because VIU has a transgender player.
Vancouver Island released a statement saying its players do not feel comfortable playing at Columbia Bible College.
“Intimidation, harassment and discrimination have no place in athletics,” the statement read, according to Pakinomist. “VIU stands in full support of our student-athletes and affirms the right of all athletes to compete in an environment that prioritizes their safety and well-being.”
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Columbia Bible College denied the claim. (iStock)
The CBC immediately denied the accusations that they were creating an unsafe environment and countered by saying they had put measures in place for additional security for the games against VIU.
The allegations of “trimming, harassment and discrimination” stem from several incidents in late October, when the two teams played each other for the first time this season.
Vancouver Island transgender player Harriette Mackenzie said in an Instagram video that CBC coach Taylor Clagett went on a “tirade” at a VIU staff member who complained about the team having a man on its women’s basketball team.
Mackenzie, who leads VIU in points, rebounds and blocks and is the tallest player on the team, further said CBC players tried to hurt the transgender athlete with targeted flagrant fouls.
Columbia Bible College players wrote a letter denying allegations against their team and head coach.
The players from the Christian school released a separate statement, signed by each player, defending their head coach and denying the allegations made by Mackenzie and VIU.
“Coach Claggett has repeatedly shown respect for all athletes from many backgrounds throughout her career as a youth and college coach. We have the privilege of interacting with Coach Claggett on a daily basis and know that the concerns she has expressed are rooted in a concern for the safety of her team,” said the statement, which was sent to OutKick.
“The attack on Coach Claggett’s character, and the character of our team, over the last three months has been based on misinformation and one side of a complicated scenario.”
Normally, these games in this situation would count as forfeits for Vancouver Island, the #5 team in the CCAA. However, the PACWEST simply decided to postpone those games until further notice, something that Columbia Bible College said represented a double standard.
General view of the rim and nets during a college basketball game between the Villanova Wildcats and the Providence Friars on March 2, 2024 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, RI. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“In the past, when a team has refused to attend and travel to a scheduled game, they have received 0 points in the standings. By postponing games this weekend, the PacWest has contradicted standard operating procedure. No clear justification has been provided to our team for to justify this departure from normal procedures,” the statement read.
It seems clear that Coach Claggett does not believe that biological males, like Mackenzie, should compete in women’s sports. That is the majority opinion of most US citizens, although Canada tends to lean more to the left than the US, so perhaps there are fewer citizens who have the common sense belief in the neighboring country.
But the picture painted by the CBC players is not unlike what is often seen in American sports, when women stand up for themselves and their sport and demand that biological men compete against other men and not against women. They are confronted with harassment and calls for “bigotry” for simply wanting fair competition.
It is unfortunate that the players and the coach have faced “derogatory messages” for their attitude, but that is the reality. And, as CBC pointed out, the PACWEST appeared to show favoritism toward VIU, likely because the conference fears backlash from the trans mafia if they don’t meet their demands.
This is how these people often get their way. They use bullying tactics to silence opponents. But the Columbia Bible College players decided not to stay quiet. Good for them.
