Major League Baseball broadcaster Alanna Rizzo stated that she believes women and girls should have protected spaces in sports, drawing on her own experiences and concerns for her stepdaughters. Rizzo, speaking in an interview with OutKick, clarified that her position is not anti-transgender but rather focused on safeguarding biological females.
"I believe everybody should have a right to be who they are, want to be who they are, be in a safe space, be protected, and feel that they can talk about things and have their own opinion on things," Rizzo said. "But when it comes to physical space, especially for young girls and young women who may not have the resources, fortitude, or physical ability to protect themselves, I’m not saying that people are going in there and attacking them. But I grew up in sports my entire life."
Rizzo, who participated in cross country and track, recalled feeling uncomfortable with the idea of a male in her athletic space. "I would have been very uncomfortable with a male in my space," she stated. "I’m not a professional athlete by any scope of the imagination, but I would not have wanted a male in my space, nor do I want a biological male in the space of my young stepdaughters."
She emphasized that her stance on protecting women's sports spaces should not be misconstrued as anti-transgender or anti-gay. "People think that if I say women should be protected in their own space, young girls, young women, women in general should be protected, that I’m anti-trans people or anti-gay. That’s not at all what I’m saying," Rizzo explained. "I think everybody should have the right to be who they are. But when it comes to physical space, I would not want a male in my space."
Rizzo also applauded WNBA player Sophie Cunningham for speaking out on the issue. "I, for one, applaud what Sophie Cunningham is doing," Rizzo said. "I think it's very difficult to speak your mind when everyone around you is against that thought process and against what you believe in. I do believe that there should be a safe space for everyone in this world, but I also believe in protecting young girls and young women. I want to protect my stepdaughters' spaces."
Rizzo's concerns extend beyond sports; she also runs Guidry's Guardian Foundation, which focuses on animal welfare, addressing issues of abandonment, neglect, and overpopulation in shelters.