Lexi Rodgers

A transgender athlete whose eligibility to play in a semi-professional Australian basketball league is being determined by Basketball Australia has spoken ...

“One, I don’t think it’s me, and, two, I think it’s a bit harsh and people forget that there’s actually a person. “In hindsight, I feel sorry for that young boy [who I was] ... That was awesome.’ “It took a long time and it’s quite a long process,” she said. “It’s good to have a bit of a voice now, because when it’s this hypothetical person ... That’s the most I’ve committed to for however long.”

Lexi Rodgers, the transgender athlete who applied to join the NBL1 women's basketball league, has opened up on the furore.

Rodgers was a talented junior player but had given up hope of playing at a higher level. “It was overwhelming. Basketball Victoria was on the verge of accepting Rodgers’ application, but Basketball Australia took on the issue after it became public. Rodgers revealed she made the decision to transition during Covid after a relationship breakdown and her mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. “It’s good to have a bit of a voice, now, because, when it’s this hypothetical person and people are making a picture of what a transgender athlete looks like in their head, 1: I don’t think it’s me, and, 2: I think it’s a bit harsh and people forget that there’s actually a person,” Rodgers said. Lexi Rodgers, the transgender athlete who applied to join the NBL1 women’s basketball league, has opened up on the furore.

Trans basketball player breaks silence on bid to play against women... and her Opals dream.

“It was overwhelming. She is hopeful of playing in the WNBL and even for the Opals though her status in professional basketball will be determined by an eligibility panel. Rodgers, who wants to play for the Kilsyth Cobras in NBL1 South, spoke with former WNBL MVP Anneli Maley - who has been one of many WNBL players publicly supportive of playing against transgender athletes - on her podcast Rodgers transitioned over the last few years after being a talented basketball player in her childhood, following a traumatic relationship breakdown and a terminal illness suffered by her mother. “It’s good to have a bit of a voice, now, because, when it’s this hypothetical person and people are making a picture of what a transgender athlete looks like in their head, 1: I don’t think it’s me, and, 2: I think it’s a bit harsh and people forget that there’s actually a person,” she said. Lexi Rodgers, a transgender athlete who is hoping to play in the women’s NBL1 league, has spoken publicly for the first time.