The controversy surrounding a transgender high school volleyball player in California has intensified after two more schools forfeited upcoming matches against Jurupa Valley High School, all due to the presence of 17-year-old athlete AB Hernandez on the team.
Hernandez, a transgender girl and standout athlete, helped lead Jurupa Valley to an undefeated season and a league championship last year, and recently earned gold medals in the high jump and triple jump at the state track championships. Now, as her volleyball team embarks on a new season, opponents are walking off the court before the first serve.
The forfeits have escalated tensions in the Riverside area, where school board meetings have become emotionally charged battlegrounds over transgender rights, student safety, and inclusion in youth sports. The most recent meeting of the Riverside Unified School District Board saw Hernandez’s mother, Nereyda Hernandez, speak out publicly in defense of her daughter and against what she called targeted harassment and fear-mongering.
“My daughter is not the problem,” Hernandez said passionately. “The problem is coordinated external efforts — often led by individuals who travel from district to district — to spread fear and pit parents against each other using religion as a shield for discrimination.”
“This has nothing to do with fairness in sports and everything to do with erasing transgender children,” she added. “My daughter is a student, an athlete, and a girl — and she deserves the same protections and dignity as every other child.”
More Schools Forfeit in Protest
Following Riverside Poly High School’s decision to forfeit a match against Jurupa Valley earlier this month, two additional schools, Rim of the World High School and Orange Vista High School, have now canceled their scheduled games on August 25 and 29, respectively.
Jurupa Valley parent Maribel Munoz confirmed the forfeits, sharing a message from coach Liana Manu notifying families that the matches were canceled due to the opposing teams’ decisions to not play against Hernandez.
In a statement to Fox Sports, a spokesperson for the Jurupa Unified School District (JUSD) addressed the situation:
“We understand and acknowledge the disappointment of our Jurupa Valley High School athletes who are ready and prepared to play. Decisions to cancel matches were made by teams in other districts.” It went on to say, “As a public school district in California, JUSD is compelled to follow the law, which protects students from discrimination based on gender identity and requires that students be permitted to participate on athletic teams that are consistent with their gender identity (California Education Code 221.5 (f)).”
“We are proud of our JVHS Jaguars and their willingness to play any team and represent their school and our district with pride.”
The district added that it is working to schedule replacement matches so that the team, and Hernandez, can continue their season.
National Spotlight, Local Pain
Hernandez has found herself at the center of a growing national conversation around transgender athletes in youth sports. Her participation in track and volleyball competitions has been met with protests, public condemnation, and now, active forfeitures.
Earlier this year, she faced protesters wearing “Save Girls Sports” T-shirts at state championship meets. More recently, her name has surfaced in lawsuits, political talking points, and conservative media outlets — making her a national figure in a debate few teenagers are prepared to navigate.
At Thursday’s school board meeting, her mother directly criticized board member Amanda Vickers, who had appeared on Fox News Digital to discuss the forfeits.
“Amanda Vickers, you interviewed with Fox. You actually entertained and welcomed harassment to my child,” Hernandez said. “You have an oath to protect, to support all children — not just the ones that fit your ideas, your beliefs.”
Other parents raised concerns for AB’s safety. One speaker accused the board of “gross negligence”, claiming the teen had been stalked and followed as a result of the ongoing backlash.
But the room was divided. One parent, Maria Correo, spoke in support of the Riverside Poly players and condemned parents affirming their transgender children’s identities.
“Poly girls, we stand with you,” Correo said. “Keep fighting, because these parents that support their confused child are the problem.”
She went on to compare affirming trans youth to enabling drug use: “If my child was on drugs, I would love him, but guess what? I would tell him the truth: drugs are bad for you. I would not feed him more drugs.”
The Legal and Political Backdrop
California law currently protects transgender students’ rights to participate in school sports aligned with their gender identity, but challenges continue to mount. In July, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation for those same policies.
Former President Donald Trump has also entered the fray, posting on Truth Social that any school district in California failing to comply with his executive order banning trans girls in girls’ sports would face funding cuts.
Despite the vitriol and political pressure, Nereyda Hernandez remains focused on her daughter’s well-being.
“When you allow or tolerate targeted harassment, whether online, in person, or by allowing false narratives to spread, you are failing morally,” she told the board. “My daughter belongs on that court.”
Jurupa Valley High School’s volleyball team continues to search for willing opponents. All matches are governed by California state law, which currently supports full inclusion of transgender athletes in youth sports.
