NANAIMO, British Columbia — The upcoming British Columbia women’s college basketball championship will be moved from its original location due to allegations of mistreatment directed at a transgender athlete by the opposing team’s coach and players. The Pacific Western Athletic Association announced on Tuesday that Columbia Bible College will not host the championships, originally scheduled for February 27 to March 1, as the search for a new venue is now underway.
Located in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Columbia Bible College, which is affiliated with the evangelical Mennonite community, has not provided any comments regarding the situation. This decision follows statements made by Harriette Mackenzie, a forward for Vancouver Island University, who highlighted the verbal and physical abuse she reportedly faced during games with Columbia Bible College in October.
Mackenzie, who identifies as transgender, described an incident occurring after the teams’ match on October 25, where she alleged that Columbia’s coach, Taylor Claggett, launched a verbal attack directed at a Mariners staff member, claiming Mackenzie should not compete against women. Additionally, social media accounts associated with Claggett shared anti-trans sentiments following the contest.
The two teams met again on October 26, and Mackenzie contended that she was deliberately targeted by Columbia players during the game. She shared footage showing a Columbia player forcefully tackling her to the ground, away from the active play.
Columbia Bible College later issued a statement defending its coach. They asserted that Claggett’s comments were made in the interest of protecting her players, stating, “We stand in support of Taylor Claggett, and all our coaches, in expressing their legitimate concerns for the safety of our student-athletes.”
In light of these incidents, Mackenzie lodged a formal complaint with PACWEST regarding the treatment she received during the two games. Then, in January, every member of the Mariners women’s basketball team expressed their refusal to participate in two scheduled games at Columbia Bible College, insisting that the concerns had not been adequately addressed.
Their letter emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming and safe environment for all athletes, stating, “All of us should be free to be ourselves and play the game we love in a supportive and safe environment — including queer and trans athletes.” As a result, those games were postponed; however, updated dates have not been released on the PACWEST website.
The governing sports body disclosed that an investigation into the allegations involving the two institutions has concluded and that a decision has been communicated to all parties involved. They concluded by stating, “the matter is now closed.”
Transgender rights remain a contentious issue in many realms, including sports. Recently, U.S. political figures such as President Trump have made headlines regarding policies affecting transgender athletes, prompting significant debate on how these rights are recognized and enforced within various athletic organizations.
