Biological male dominates girls’ basketball in California

Henry Hanlon is the best player on the court for the San Francisco Waldorf High School girls’ basketball team.

Through four games, the center has scored nearly two-thirds of the team’s points this season (90 out of 137) and is averaging just over 22 points per game. Nobody else on the team has scored over 15 points all season, less than 3.8 points per game.

In one game, Hanlon, who is reportedly a biological male with a transgender identity, scored all but five of the team’s 23 points.

The senior is a four-year varsity basketball player. Hanlon averaged a team-high 17.8 points per game last season.

Former collegiate swimming star and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines criticized Hanlon’s dominance last season. 

“Male player, Henry Hanlon, scored 26 pts in girls high school basketball game last week in San Francisco,” Gaines posted on X in January 2024. “This is the third consecutive game where he’s scored more than 1/3 of the team’s points. The emperor wears no clothes.” 

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was also unhappy to see a male dominating in girls’ basketball. 

“It turns out that height, strength & testosterone really help in girls basketball….,” Cruz posted on X. 

A three-sport athlete, Hanlon also plays girls’ volleyball and girls’ soccer. 

At least two teams have refused to play against the male athlete. 

In November, Stone Ridge Christian forfeited a volleyball playoff game against Waldorf because Hanlon was on the team. 

“At SRC, we believe God’s Word is authoritative and infallible,” SRC wrote in a statement. “It is Truth. And as Genesis makes clear, God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female.  

“We do not believe sex is changeable, and we do not intend to participate in events that send a different message. We also have a duty and responsibility to care for the health and safety of our athletes. So after consulting with our students, coaches, and staff, we have made the difficult decision to forfeit Saturday’s game.  

“Standing for Biblical truth means more than the outcome of a game.” 

Averroes High School, a private Islamic school in California, canceled a game last year against Waldorf after reportedly being made aware of Hanlon’s presence on the team. 

It was not the only time in 2024 when a girls’ basketball team forfeited because of a male athlete on the other team.  

The Collegiate Charter School of Lowell in Massachusetts forfeited its game against KIPP Academy Lynn at halftime in February 2024. The forfeit came after a male with facial hair who identified as transgender injured three girls in the first half.