Arizona lawmakers approved a measure related to school athletics that will now go before voters in a statewide ballot decision later this year. The proposal addresses participation rules for school sports teams and establishes requirements for certain athletic facilities.
The legislation attracted significant public attention earlier this year following a widely viewed exchange during a legislative hearing involving former Utah State volleyball player Kaylie Ray and Arizona State Sen. Catherine Miranda. Ray appeared before lawmakers to support the proposal, while Miranda opposed the measure during legislative proceedings.
After legislative approval, the proposal advanced following a 16-12 vote in the Arizona Senate. The measure will now be considered by voters during the upcoming election cycle.
Following the vote, Ray commented on the legislation and the broader debate surrounding the proposal. She stated that she believes the measure reflects public support for maintaining separate athletic categories based on sex. She also said she views the proposal as an effort to preserve opportunities in girls’ and women’s sports.
Additionally, Ray said she previously invited Miranda to discuss the issue privately. According to Ray, the two have not communicated since their exchange during the hearing process.
Miranda voted against the proposal as it moved through the Legislature. Legislative records show the measure advanced from the Senate Education Committee on March 11 by a 4-3 vote. Miranda was among the lawmakers who opposed it. Later, she also supported an amendment proposed by Sen. Analise Ortiz before voting against the final version of the resolution.
The proposed amendment would have removed language requiring schools and athletic associations to designate teams according to biological sex. Instead, it would have allowed athletic organizations to consider characteristics associated with athletic performance and relevant to a specific sport. However, the amendment did not pass.
Ray criticized the amendment and said she did not believe it addressed the central purpose of the legislation. She stated that the proposal’s primary focus remains on athletic participation standards and facility policies.
Under the measure, Arizona schools and athletic associations would designate interscholastic and intramural teams as male, female, or coeducational according to biological sex. The Save Women’s Sports proposal would prohibit teams designated for females, women, or girls from including athletes of the male sex. Athletes could participate on teams corresponding to their sex or on male or coeducational teams.
In addition, the Save Women’s Sports proposal would establish requirements for athletic facilities. Schools and athletic associations would not authorize individuals to use restrooms, locker rooms, shower facilities, or similar private athletic spaces designated for the opposite sex. The legislation defines sex as male or female as recorded on an original birth certificate.
Ray’s involvement in the issue stems from her experiences competing in collegiate volleyball. She previously competed against a transgender athlete from San Jose State University during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. In 2024, her team forfeited a scheduled match involving that athlete. Ray later joined legal action involving other former Mountain West Conference volleyball players.
Meanwhile, Ray continues her volleyball career. She currently plays for a semi-professional team in Arizona and plans to begin a professional season in Greece later this year.
She also discussed public reactions to her advocacy work. Ray said she has received support from teammates and others who share her views. At the same time, she acknowledged receiving criticism on social media from individuals who disagree with her position.
As voters prepare to consider the measure, the Save Women’s Sports proposal remains part of a broader public discussion about athletic participation policies, school regulations, and competitive sports standards.
