Professional disc golfer Abigail Wilson made headlines this weekend after she refused to compete at the Music City Open, walking off the course in protest over being placed in a round alongside transgender athlete Natalie Ryan.
Wilson, visibly emotional, was overheard telling spectators,
“Females must be protected in our division. This is unfair. I refuse to play.”
Her decision has since sparked a renewed national conversation about the integrity of women’s sports, fairness in competition, and athlete safety.
The Stand Heard Around the Disc Golf World
Wilson later took to Instagram to explain her decision in a heartfelt post:
“Today I refused to play at the Music City Open. Females deserve to have their gender-protected division be protected. This is unfair.”
“I have worked so hard to get to this point to play on the DGPT, but the sacrifice of my career and my hard work is worth it if it means I can make a difference for other women, daughters, nieces, and the future of our sport.”
Her post also revealed personal fears related to the controversy:
“I took this stand today because I was having anxiety about playing with the openly trans player on tour due to the planned protests for this year and the threats of violence at the event last year.”
“After speaking with a member of the DGPT staff yesterday, they made it clear they would be unwilling to change me to an earlier tee time regarding my safety concerns on the course.”
Natalie Ryan’s Presence Sparks Debate
Natalie Ryan, the transgender athlete in question, has been a top-ranked competitor in women’s disc golf and has previously won major events in the division. Her participation has been the center of controversy for several years, with some praising her inclusion as progress, while others argue it undermines fair play.
League Response
As of now, the Disc Golf Pro Tour (DGPT) has not released an official statement addressing Wilson’s withdrawal or the safety concerns she raised. However, insiders report that this incident is likely to reignite internal debates over gender eligibility policies and how to balance inclusion with fairness.
National Reactions
Social media exploded with reactions — some praising Wilson as a hero standing up for women’s sports, others criticizing her for what they see as discriminatory behavior.
The incident comes as more female athletes in various sports are voicing concerns about competing against transgender athletes in biologically female divisions — an issue that continues to divide sporting communities, lawmakers, and advocacy groups.
