Former ESPN star Samantha Ponder has never been one to hold back her true feelings on controversial topics, and she was at it again this week. Ponder took to social media to express her displeasure after her daughter was forced to guard a player who she described as “an obviously naturally born boy” during a middle school basketball game — an experience she claims has “happened many times” in New York City.
“It’s happened many times now living in NYC. Yet another basketball game today where my middle school daughter is guarding an obviously naturally born boy in a girls tournament. The parents cheer while the boy is physical and dominant against the girls. The all-girls team loses,” Ponder wrote in a post on X on Sunday afternoon.
She continued to share her frustration with the parents of the young student she believes is a transgender athlete. “We’ve taught our kids to never make fun of the kid, to always be kind and loving. That the parents are the problem. That no kid is born in the wrong body. But if I’m honest, watching my daughter get posted up by a boy whose parents have deceived him in this way is maddening,” Ponder added.
Despite her concerns, Ponder made it clear she enjoys living in New York City, calling it “the greatest American city,” and emphasized that she doesn’t want to simply leave. “To everyone saying ‘just move!’ I understand the sentiment but IMHO NYC is the greatest American city that has lost its way. I want to fight for truth and love. I don’t want to give in to insanity and darkness. This is still America,” she wrote.
Samantha Ponder’s post highlights the complex and often emotional discussions surrounding transgender athletes in youth sports, especially in highly diverse and competitive environments like New York City.
https://thecomeback.com/politics/samantha-ponder-transgender-athletes.html