North Dakota Basketball Player With Long Hair Was Called a Girl — First by the Ref, Then the Coach and He’s Sadly Used to Correcting Them

Respect the braid, uphold the culture

November 24, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on November 25, 2026

A basketball player in North Dakota was misgendered during his games, first by the referee, then by the opposing coach.

Even after being corrected, the coach dismissed the truth, saying, “it’s not my problem.“

North Dakota Basketball Player Misgendered Over Long Hair!

a concerned parent, took to Facebook to share a troubling incident involving her son, Ayden, a North Dakota basketball player with long hair.

She explained that during two of his games, he was misgendered, first by the referee and then by the opposing coach, both calling him a girl.

While she and her husband, Chuck, corrected the referee immediately, who apologized, the coach reacted dismissively.

Even after being told Ayden is a boy, the coach threw up his hands and said, “it’s not my problem.“

Crissy emphasized that this lack of acknowledgment is the deeper issue, stressing that Indigenous boys with long hair deserve respect, as it is part of their culture and identity.

In her post, Crissy focused on educating others about the ignorance Indigenous boys often face when wearing their hair long.

She highlighted that long hair is not just a style but a cultural symbol tied to Indigenous heritage, resilience, and identity.

Additionally, she concluded her post by saying:

Our Indigenous boys with long hair matter.

People reacted strongly to Crissy’s post, sharing their own experiences and perspectives.

One commenter shared their POV, highlighting their son Amiel’s painful childhood, saying,

When we moved from McLaughlin to the Black Hills, Amiel had long beautiful braids. But after being beat up and called filthy names and told he’d have to use the girls bathroom because he had long hair like a girl. He was 7 years old. I then went up to the school and raised cane with the principal and thanked him for allowing his students to teach my son about racism. He wanted to cut his hair then but I asked him if he would please wait until after the DeCory traditional pow wow. It was a sad day but I kept his braids all those years and laid them in his casket along with one of my braids. I did tell him that people behave that way because they’re either taught to be like that or because they aren’t educated and it scares them about something they don’t know anything about so they strike out.

I love Ayden’s long hair. It is so beautiful and reminds me of my son when he was little.

Another voiced their frustration, saying,

At this day and age, everyone has some knowledge of Indigenous identity. Sounds like the coach doesn’t want to understand or respect his players background maybe he needs a spiritual lesson of integrity. Long hair is a symbol of strength especially in young males. Prayers up for your little man 

 He has nations of proud people behind him.

Others shared a similar story, saying,

This happens way too much. My son has faced this his whole life and he’s barely 9 years old… I pray this coach realizes he is disrespecting CHILDREN.

This is not only about a boy being misgendered during a basketball game; it is about the respect and acknowledgment.

Moreover, this is about the culture and the dignity of Indigenous identity.

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Sangita is a passionate blogger with a keen eye for covering recent and trending news, particularly in the world of sports. Her love for travel and nature fuels her writing, adding a vibrant and refreshing perspective to her work. When she's not chasing the latest headlines, Sangita can be found exploring new destinations, capturing the beauty of nature, and sharing her adventures with her audience. Her unique blend of interests and expertise makes her blog a go-to source for both news enthusiasts and fellow travelers.

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