Nebraska athletes stand by decision to urge pro-life vote in ad

Six University of Nebraska athletes appear in a political ad urging the state’s voters to support a pro-life initiative on the ballot and oppose a pro-abortion initiative.

The pro-life initiative is known as 434, while the pro-abortion initiative is known as 439. Both will appear on the ballot Tuesday in Nebraska.

The God-centered ad features Huskers’ star softball pitcher Jordyn Bahl and teammates Abbie Squier, Lauren Camenzind, Hannah Camenzind and Malia Thoms, as well as volleyball player Rebekah Allick, reported Nebraska News Now. 

“Nebraska, it’s time to get off the bench,” Bahl said in the ad. 

Allick then accused “out-of-state activists” of pushing the radical pro-abortion initiative that she later says is dangerous to women and children, while the measure the athletes support “defends women from abuse, trafficking and coercion.”  

“With out-of-state activists lying about the radical Initiative 439, my teammates and I knew it was time to get off the bench and tell the truth about how 439 would harm Nebraska women and children,” added Bahl. “Nebraskans should vote for 4 and no on 9 to protect Nebraska women and children.” 

The ad drew immediate support from someone who knows a lot about being a female athlete at the NCAA level. Riley Gaines said the ad could mark a breakthrough for conservative thought and opinion. 

“Six female athletes from the University of Nebraska appear in a pro-life, pro-child, pro-woman ad supporting Initiative 434 in Nebraska,” said the former collegiate swimming star. “This is so cool to see. For so long, the other side has used star athletes to promote their views. The tide is turning.”  

The ad drew immediate attacks, with one opponent in the mainstream media insinuating that the athletes were paid spokeswomen for the campaign.  

Omaha’s local ABC News affiliate KETV reported darkly that it “combed through publicly available finance data for the Protect Women and Children Campaign, which is backing the measure [Initiative 434]. It’s unclear if the athletes were paid or if this was a name, image and likeness [NIL] deal.” 

NIL is an NCAA rule that allows student athletes to get compensated for the use of their name, image or likeness.  

Bahl responded quickly to the insinuations by noting that appearing in the ad was wholly voluntary. 

“Imagine people seeing a commercial done with 6 young women supporting a pro-life movement, and immediately jumping to the conclusion that we were paid to take part,” said Bahl on X. “Nope! None of us received a penny! We just aren’t afraid to take a stand and protect life!” 

KETV picked on some Nebraska Board of Regents candidates, too, who run under political party designations and donated to the pro-life campaign ads. 

“We asked the University of Nebraska about the ad, some of which are being paid for by Board of Regents campaigns running for reelection,” intoned KETV’s reporter, Eddie Messel, in the video story accompanying the article. 

The university responded with a standard statement. 

“The University of Nebraska is not affiliated with the campaign activities of the candidates running for election to the Board of Regents,” the university told KETV’s reporter in a statement. “The opinions expressed by the candidates and the causes supported by their respective campaigns are their own and do not reflect the University of Nebraska.” 

The university added, “Students at the University of Nebraska are private citizens and are able to exercise their First Amendment rights,” but their political views don’t represent the university. 

Bahl said the decision for her to speak out about the “evil and criminal” abortion practice was her desire to fight against it. 

“I am a young, American woman, who has all of the rights of an American, and do not think that the ‘right’ to have an abortion in the 3rd trimester is a right that women should feel obligated to, or should have,” she said, reported OutKick. 

Bahl said she had a lot of support from teammates, school administration, coaches and fans, but that she received a lot of expected hateful responses on social media.  

“This was something that my teammates and I were highly anticipating but is nothing that would or will stop us from taking this stance,” she added.