LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A new recreational tennis league is serving players in the valley after a policy change by the U.S. Tennis Association banned transgender women and girls from competing in women’s events.
What started as a group chat in December has turned into a community in Las Vegas.
“So we made it after this new policy went into effect, kind of kicking some of our friends out of the league. It started with a text of five people saying, oh, we’re going to play every week. We’re going to figure out a way to play. We’re not losing you,” Co-founder Valerie Witherspoon said.
Tennis with Friends was created by Witherspoon and Christine Delisle. The goal is to give players a court to call their own after the U.S. Tennis Association policy change.
“Some people have gone as far as to quit the league and say, we’re not being a part of this anymore,” Delisle said.
The league had about five players who identified as trans.
“And so we really thought our turnout was going to be maybe 20 people who wanted to just get together and play,” Witherspoon said.
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The recreational league has more than 100 players.
“And taking them out of that league really left them with an empty space not to be able to come out on a Saturday and Sunday and be with their friends,” Delisle said.
She said the focus is on having fun.
“You’re going to have lots of people who say, well, yes, there shouldn’t be people playing in women’s sports who aren’t women. And then you have people who are saying, let them play because it’s recreational tennis. None of us are competing for scholarships or prize money,” Delisle said.
“The main word that keeps coming up is community is these women just want to hang out with their friends,” Witherspoon said.
The U.S. Tennis Association updated its policy to align with federal guidance on gender-based eligibility, with verification based on birth certificates. To participate in the new recreational league, players must be 18 years of age or older.
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