Long Trail School’s girls’ basketball team in Vermont is making headlines this season with a remarkable 17-1 record. The team has a key contributor to their success, which might surprise you.
Rose Johnson is a 6-foot-1 senior on the girls’ team, and he competes as a transgender player on the court.
Over the past two seasons, Johnson has steadily contributed to the team. Even highlights of her exceptional performance has been featured in Vermont newspapers like The Rutland Herald and The Manchester Journal.
A reporter for the New Boston Post saw video of Johnson’s game versus Poultney on January 12, 2024. In the match, Long Trail won 55-20.
Johnson finished with eight points, five rebounds, four steals, and three blocks. Late in the third quarter, Long Trail substituted Johnson out. The center did not return to the court for the rest of the game.
During an interview with The Manchester Journal, Coach Courtney Stasny praise Johnson’s defense. He stated: “Rose brings such a great energy to the floor. We nicknamed her Rose ‘not in my house’ Johnson because she just does not let anything come through the lane.”
The term “Not in my house” became popular due to a Geico ad. It featured 7-foot-2 center former NBA player Diembe Mutombo stopping people’s shots in a laundry bin, a shopping carriage, a toll booth coin collector, and a wastepaper basket.
In December 2023, Johnson’s on-court collision with a Leland & Gray player stirred controversy. Despite the incident, Long Trail emerged victorious with a 30-28 win.
Also, last year Vermont Mid Christian School declined to play Long Trail due to Johnson’s presence on the team. The game resulted in a forfeit for Vermont Mid Christian School, and the school was barred from participating in athletic events sponsored by the Vermont Principals’ Association. Although the player’s identity was published in a Vermont Daily Chronicle piece, it was not widely publicized at the time.
In Vermont, student-athletes are free to choose their chosen gender identification over their given sex while competing in school sports.