FINAL 5 MINUTES: The women’s basketball team refuses to compete against biological males, stating that “it’s not right.”

May be an image of 6 people, people playing basketball, people playing voleyball and text

A major controversy erupted this week as the Westlake University women’s basketball team refused to take the court for the final five minutes of their regional championship semifinal game after learning that a biological male athlete was playing for the opposing team.

The incident occurred with Westlake leading by a narrow margin. As the coach informed the team about the participation of a transgender athlete on the rival squad, the entire Westlake roster stood up, approached the officials, and announced their decision not to continue the game.

“We respect everyone as individuals, but we believe allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports is not fair,” said team captain Emily Carter. “We’ve worked hard and sacrificed so much for this moment. We don’t want to win at any cost, but we do want to compete on a level playing field.”

Their decision was met with loud applause and chants from many in the stands, though social media quickly became divided, with some arguing that sports should remain inclusive for all.

Tournament organizers called an emergency meeting and decided not to penalize Westlake, promising to review their gender participation policies. “We understand this is a sensitive issue and will listen to all stakeholders to find a fair and respectful solution,” a representative said.

For the Westlake women’s team, the players stood by their choice. “We believe we did the right thing. Sometimes, the most important thing isn’t the win—it’s standing up for what you believe in,” Emily concluded.

The incident has reignited passionate debate about the balance between fairness and inclusion in women’s sports, with many expecting further discussion and possible policy changes in the future