A former college volleyball player who says she was directly affected by a controversial transgender athlete dispute found herself in an unexpected moment during a recent legislative hearing—one that shifted attention away from her story and toward comments about her own body.

Kaylie Ray, a former Utah State volleyball player, appeared before lawmakers to share her experience competing against a transgender athlete during a debate about policies surrounding women’s sports. But during the hearing, Ray says she was surprised when an Arizona Democratic state senator responded to her testimony with remarks about her physical appearance.

According to reporting highlighted by the New York Post and Fox News, Sen. Catherine Miranda told Ray during the session that she appeared “healthy,” “strong,” and “in shape” after Ray discussed the challenges she faced competing against a transgender player.

For Ray, the comments felt unexpected and confusing.

“When she started saying those words, the only thing I was thinking is, ‘Where could she possibly be going with this?’” Ray later said in an interview. She added that she didn’t understand why her physical build was being referenced in a discussion about fairness in competition.

Ray said she would be open to accepting an apology if one were offered, though Miranda’s office has not publicly responded to requests for comment.

The hearing was part of a broader debate about policies involving transgender athletes in women’s sports—a discussion that has become increasingly contentious nationwide.

Ray’s testimony focused on her experience competing against San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. At the time, Ray says she and her teammates initially suspected something was different about Fleming’s athletic abilities but did not have confirmation regarding the athlete’s background.

She described Fleming’s spikes as unusually powerful and said some teammates experienced finger injuries while attempting to block them. Ray said the team had to adjust its defensive strategy specifically to deal with the player’s strength and reach.

Even with those adjustments, Ray said the matches were difficult.

“We knew if that player had a phenomenal game, there wasn’t much we could do,” she said.

The situation escalated in 2024 when information about Fleming’s birth sex became widely known, triggering national controversy and a series of match forfeitures involving San Jose State. Ray said Utah State administrators surveyed players about whether they felt comfortable competing in a scheduled match.

Ultimately, the team decided to forfeit.

Ray says the decision affected the entire season. The loss counted in the standings, and the situation created tension and distraction within the program as the team continued its pursuit of another conference championship.

The experience later led Ray to join a lawsuit connected to the broader controversy involving San Jose State and the Mountain West conference.

Now finished with her college volleyball career, Ray says she remains focused on advocating for policies she believes will protect women’s sports.

What began as a moment for her to share that experience with lawmakers, however, turned into a different kind of headline—one she says she never expected.