Female Athletes Confront CIF Over Title IX Policies

Lawmakers join female athletes in pressing California's high school sports governing body to protect girls' sports

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Female high school athletes, along with Republican state lawmakers, held a press conference outside a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) meeting to challenge policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports. The athletes shared personal stories of losing competitions and privacy rights due to the CIF's policies, which they argue violate the intent of Title IX. The protest revealed deep political divisions, as a Democratic legislator criticized the presence of GOP lawmakers and dismissed the athletes' concerns.

Why it matters

This confrontation highlights the ongoing debate in California over fairness and safety in women's athletics. Critics argue the CIF's policies undermine the original purpose of Title IX, which was to guarantee equal opportunities for female athletes. The issue has become highly politicized, with lawmakers from both parties taking sides.

The details

At the press conference, female athletes like Reese Hogan and Audrey Vanherweg shared personal stories of losing competitions and having their privacy violated due to the CIF's policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports and use female locker rooms. Republican state Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez and Assemblyman David Tangipa joined the athletes, pledging to continue fighting for protections for female sports. However, Democratic Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal, whose district hosted the CIF meeting, criticized the Republican lawmakers' involvement and dismissed the athletes' concerns.

  • The press conference took place on February 6, 2026, ahead of the CIF Federated Council meeting.
  • Reese Hogan detailed five competitions from May 2024 to January 2026 where she lost to a male athlete competing in the girls' division.

The players

Reese Hogan

A varsity tri-sport athlete in track and field at Crean Lutheran High School who has repeatedly lost competitions to a male athlete competing in the girls' division.

Audrey Vanherweg

A senior and four-year varsity athlete at Arroyo Grande High School who has had to change in her car rather than the girls' locker room due to a male student being allowed to use it.

Kate Sanchez

A Republican member of the California State Assembly and author of AB 89, the Protect Girls' Sports Act, which was rejected in committee last year.

David Tangipa

A Republican member of the California State Assembly and former Division I football player at Fresno State.

Josh Lowenthal

A Democratic member of the California State Assembly and the Speaker pro Tempore, who criticized the presence of Republican lawmakers at the press conference.

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What they’re saying

“Track is not just something I do. It's who I am. I train to push my limits, to compete fairly, and to earn every achievement through hard work. But over the past two years, that fairness has been taken away from me.”

— Reese Hogan, Varsity Tri-Sport Athlete (contracostaherald.com)

“I wasn't going to go into a locker room and change in front of a boy. Especially since he 'wasn't changing himself, but simply just watching all of us girls undress.'”

— Audrey Vanherweg, Senior and Four-Year Varsity Athlete (contracostaherald.com)

“Politicians killed the bill, but they didn't kill this movement. And they didn't silence these athletes.”

— Kate Sanchez, California State Assemblywoman (contracostaherald.com)

“Why or how is it somehow believed [that it's] Nazi ideology when you just wanna place to dress freely, and why and how is it Nazi ideology when you want to play in your sport freely? Why do we ignore safeguards and disregard biology and reality, which is insanity?”

— David Tangipa, California State Assemblyman (contracostaherald.com)

“We all know they don't actually care about women.”

— Josh Lowenthal, California State Assemblyman (contracostaherald.com)

What’s next

Assemblywoman Sanchez pledged continued action, including potential ballot initiatives, to restore protections for female athletes. The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This confrontation highlights the deep political divisions surrounding the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports. While female athletes argue the CIF's policies violate the intent of Title IX, some lawmakers view the issue through a partisan lens, dismissing the athletes' concerns. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the future of girls' and women's sports in California.