Jordyn Bahl, two-time national champion and standout at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) softball team, is firing back after criticism for participating in a political ad campaign for a pro-life ballot measure in Nebraska.

Bahl, 22, was one of six college athletes who appeared in a series of commercials encouraging Nebraskans to vote on two competing abortion measures that will appear on the state’s general election ballot Tuesday, Initiative Measure 434 and Initiative Measure 439.

Nebraska Cornhuskers middle blocker Rebekah Allick gets a kill to end the first set against the Illinois Fighting Illini at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. (Dylan Widger/Imagn Images)

According to the Nebraska Secretary of State’s office, Measure 434 appears to amend the state constitution to ban second- and third-trimester abortions, except “an abortion necessary due to a medical emergency or when the pregnancy is the result of sexual assault or incest. .”

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Measure 439 appears to amend the Constitution to “provide that all persons have a fundamental right to abortion until the viability of the fetus, or when necessary to protect the life or health of the pregnant patient, without state interference or its political divisions.”

This week, two ads from the Protect Women and Children initiative were unveiled, featuring the six athletes encouraging voters to say yes to the pro-life ballot measure.

Bahl and four other members of the UNL softball team — Malia Thomas, Hannah Camenzind, Lauren Camenzind and Abbie Squier — were featured in the ads. UNL volleyball player Rebekah Allick also appeared.

Oklahoma Sooners starting pitcher Jordyn Bahl smiles in the seventh inning after the final out against the Florida State Seminoles during Game 1 of the Women’s College World Series finals at OGE Energy Field at the USA Softball Hall of Fame Complex. (Brett Rojo/USA Today Sports)

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“This was too important for me to keep quiet about it,” Bahl wrote in an Instagram post in which she shared the video with her more than 100,000 followers. “If Initiative 439 passes, Nebraska women will be at risk. That’s why I voted FOR 434 and against 439. Keep our women and children SAFE.”

Bahl, who won two national championships as a pitcher near Oklahoma, where she was also named Women’s College World Series Most Outstanding Player, seemed to face backlash over the ad, prompting her to respond to X.

“Imagine people seeing a commercial featuring six young women supporting a pro-life movement and immediately jumping to the conclusion that we were paid to participate. No! None of us received a cent! We’re just not afraid to take a stand and protect life,” she wrote in a post on X.

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The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in a statement to KETV the school said students are free to “exercise their First Amendment rights,” adding that they do not represent those of the university.

Oklahoma pitcher Jordyn Bahl yells at players in the fifth inning during the first game of the Women’s College World Series final against Florida State at USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City on June 7, 2023. (PROPOSE)

“The University of Nebraska is not involved in the campaign activities of the candidates running for election to the Board of Regents. The opinions expressed by the candidates and the causes supported by their respective campaigns are their own and do not reflect the University of Nebraska,” the university statement said.

“Students at the University of Nebraska are private citizens and can exercise their First Amendment rights. Student opinions are their own and not those of the University of Nebraska or Husker Athletics.”

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