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XX-XY: The Fight for Fairness in Women’s Sports takes center stage in Season 5, Episode 30 of The SLIDE Podcast. Coach Aaron and special co-host Rachel Garcia welcome NCAA softball player Kendall Kotzmacher for a powerful conversation about biological sex, gender identity, Title IX, and athletic competition.
What happens when a girls’ softball team faces an athlete identified by an opposing player as biologically male? How should schools balance fairness, inclusion, and athletic opportunities?
For Kendall, these questions became personal during her senior year of high school in Minnesota. Her experience eventually led her to speak before lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Kendall recalls her team’s remarkable journey through the Minnesota state softball tournament. Entering as the sixth seed, her team exceeded expectations and advanced to the semifinals.
However, Kendall says the semifinal presented a challenge that went beyond winning or losing.
Her team faced an opponent that included an athlete Kendall identified as biologically male. She explains why she believed that athlete’s participation raised concerns about competitive fairness in girls’ softball.
Additionally, Kendall discusses the emotional impact of playing one of her final high school games alongside her younger sister.
Although her teammates held different perspectives, Kendall believed the experience exposed a much larger issue affecting women’s athletics.
Should biological sex determine eligibility for female athletic categories? What role should genetic testing play in verifying eligibility?
These questions drive one of the episode’s most significant discussions.
Kendall argues that sex-based eligibility standards are necessary to maintain fair competition. She also explains why she believes biological differences must be considered when establishing athletic categories.
Moreover, Kendall discusses her involvement with advocacy organizations and her experience speaking at a congressional hearing.
The conversation explores Title IX, proposed eligibility legislation, and Kendall’s views on using XX-XY chromosome classifications in athletic policies. However, human sex development also includes chromosomal variations, making eligibility standards more complex than a simple two-category genetic test.
As Kendall became increasingly involved in advocacy, she says her college experience became more difficult.
She describes feeling isolated during her freshman year at Western Michigan University. Furthermore, she shares that she received threats and reported some to law enforcement.
Kendall discusses how these experiences affected her confidence, personal safety, and relationship with softball.
Rachel also provides her perspective as a professional softball player. Together, they discuss the value of opportunities for female athletes and the importance of supportive athletic environments.
After leaving Western Michigan, Kendall transferred to Colorado Christian University.
She describes a supportive environment where teammates and coaches regularly check on her well-being. Consequently, Kendall credits her new community with helping restore her confidence and passion for softball.
Her faith also plays an important role in her approach to competition.
“We’re playing to win games, but at the end of the day we’re playing for God.”
In addition, Kendall discusses her studies in criminal justice and political science. She shares her interest in law school and a possible career involving human trafficking prevention.
Beyond Kendall’s personal experiences, this episode raises important questions about how athletic organizations should determine eligibility.
What does fairness mean in competitive sports? How should schools protect athletic opportunities while respecting individual athletes? What role should lawmakers play in setting participation standards?
Coach Aaron, Rachel, and Kendall discuss these questions through their experiences in softball.
The episode also features a Field of Dreams recap, professional softball updates, and the hilarious debut of The SLIDE Slang Challenge!
Ultimately, XX-XY: The Fight for Fairness in Women’s Sports brings listeners into a personal discussion about competitive fairness, policy, advocacy, and the future of female athletics.
Learn more about Title IX through the U.S. Department of Education: https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/civil-rights-laws/title-ix-and-sex-discrimination
Explore more inspiring athlete stories at The SLIDE Podcast: https://www.theslidepodcastshow.com/
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Listen guide
"XX-XY: The Fight for Fairness in Women’s Sports — Kendall Kotzmacher" is an episode of The SLIDE Podcast - National Youth Baseball & Softball Podcast. Runtime 49 min. Published October 23, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.
