NCAA Softball Player Says Someone Threatened to Come to Her School and Kill Her Over Women's Sports Activism

Kendall Kutzmacher says she reported a death threat on the campus of Colorado Christian University after speaking out against transgender athletes in girls' sports.

NCAA softball player Kendall Kutzmacher says someone threatened to come to her school and kill her because of women's sports.

Colorado Christian softball player Kendall Kutzmacher says she reported a threat to come to her college and kill her amid backlash for her support of transgender athletes who participate in girls' and women's sports.

NCAA softball player Kendall Kutzmacher says she has reported threats to come to her college and kill her amid backlash for her support of transgender athletes competing in girls' and women's sports, while online targeting has spread to her teammates.

The 20-year-old Colorado Christian University sophomore, who was recently named a Courage Champion by XX-XY Athletics, told OutKick that animosity has intensified as his public profile has increased.

"I had one person say they were going to come to school and kill me. That one was a little scary," Kutzmacher said.

Kutzmacher said she reported the threat to her school and logged other related messages over the summer. When asked if anyone was arrested, he said: No.

"I had a lot of people telling me to go kill yourself or that I don't deserve to live or that I should die, things like that, which were really hard to hear," she says.

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Softball player Kendall Kutzmacher throws a ball. (Thanks to Kendall Kotzmacher)

Knowing that strangers could tell where he attended college only added to his fear.

"I think it's been a little scary for people to know where I go to school, just because I never know who's going to show up or what's going to happen," she said.

The backlash also made Kutzmacher worry about teammates publicly supporting him. One responded to teammates' comments on their social media posts, visited their accounts and looked up their names and stats, he said.

"I think I want to protect them as much as possible," he said. "So trying to make sure they don't face any backlash and it's just about me has been my focus."

Kutzmacher said that in the team's group chat, he offered to remove their names from his social media and make it clear that they were not involved in supporting him.

He said his teammates rejected the offer.

"And they're totally not. Like, we're in this together. We're going to support you," Kutzmacher recalled. "Like, we're all here for you, that was refreshing to hear because I didn't really get that last year."

Kutzmacher, a catcher and infielder who previously attended Western Michigan University, last summer after

His support began after White Bear Lake High School lost 3-2 in the 2025 Minnesota Class AAAA state semifinals to Champlain Park. Champlain Park, whose team included a transgender pitcher, subsequently won the championship.

Kutzmacher helped White Bear Lake reach the semifinals with a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Farmington with a two-run seventh inning.

More than a year later, she's balancing college softball and classes with an increasingly public role in the debate over the sport's eligibility.

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(L to R) Female athletes Frances Ostad, Billie Anderson, Sadie Sullivan, Kendall Kutzmacher and Alana Smith stand behind podcast host and emcee Brandi Kruse at a rally supporting equity in girls' sports in Vancouver, Washington. (Derk Shock for OutKick)

She said he trains four days a week and attends classes daily while trying to find time to support her in Washington.

"When I went to D.C., it was really hard to miss class and go do something so important and work for these women," Kutzmacher said. And then come back on Monday and go to school like any other day.

She attended a Sept. 23 news conference on Capitol Hill following a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on fairness, opportunity and safety for female athletes. The three witnesses named in the hearing are ICONS co-founder Kim Jones, former professional soccer player Carly Smolak, and attorney William Book III.

The Democrats did not call any witnesses. Sens. Dick Durbin and Amy Klobuchar attended parts of the hearing before leaving. Durbin argued that lawmakers should address other issues facing children and female athletes and raised concerns about invasive examinations to impose sports restrictions.

Kutzmacher criticized the limited participation of Democrats.

"Even if they don't agree with it, just sit back and listen. Like, listen to these real stories from these real girls that this happened to," she said.

The Minnesota native also said he plans to vote for Republican Senate candidate Michelle Tafoya, who will face Democratic Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. Tafoya has made restrictions on transgender participation in women's sports part of his campaign.

"I mean, I've talked to Michelle a lot. She's supportive of everything. We're very close," Kutzmacher said.

Her advocacy also includes Sophie Cunningham's march in Minneapolis, where she previously claimed a counter-protester told her she "should have had an abortion."

XX-XY Athletics announced in a statement on Oct. 2 that Kutzmacher's bravery has been recognized. The program honors female athletes who are making important stands for equity, opportunity or safety and provides financial support and access to leadership programs.

For Kutzmacher, it's a recognition of sacrifices that go beyond the softball field.

"I've lost a lot of friends. A lot of people don't talk to me anymore," he said. "It's just nice to be noticed."

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Despite the support Dardkoetzmacher has received, he acknowledged that the hostility has tested his resolve.

"I think I've definitely reached my limit this summer," he said.

She said the possibility of young girls facing similar experiences makes her want to speak out.

"I think the biggest thing is that I haven't lost my voice yet," Kutzmacher said. It's really easy to go back into the cave and stop talking.

"I think in this day and age, using your voice and your platform is going to be the biggest thing to change."