A coalition of women’s advocacy organizations is calling on President-elect Donald Trump to exert his influence on the NCAA and demand a change to its policies regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The group, "Our Bodies, Our Sports," which is the first and only coalition dedicated to advocating for fairness in women’s sports, issued a letter requesting that Trump push the NCAA to revise its current rules, which they claim are unfair to female athletes.
In the letter, the coalition, which includes organizations such as the Independent Women’s Forum and the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, emphasized the need to clarify and protect the rights of female athletes in light of the NCAA’s current Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy.
The policy, which the group describes as “controversial” and “unscientific,” allows transgender women (biological males) to compete in women’s sports, something the coalition argues negatively impacts women’s opportunities to compete at the collegiate level.
“We write now to ask you to also use your powerful voice to urge the NCAA to take action and clarify participation rules to protect the rights and opportunities of female athletes,” the letter to Trump reads.
“The NCAA’s controversial and unscientific Transgender Student-Athlete Participation Policy continues to allow men to participate in women’s sports – taking away women’s opportunities to compete, roster spots on teams, medals, and safe and fair competition.”
The letter comes ahead of the 2025 NCAA Convention, scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee, from January 14-17.
During this week-long event, the NCAA will address several issues, including policies surrounding gender and participation in collegiate athletics.
The timing of the letter coincides with a significant legal development: a federal judge recently blocked the Biden administration’s attempt to redefine "sex" under Title IX as "gender identity," a ruling which has reignited debates over transgender rights in sports.
The federal ruling, handed down in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, vacated the Biden administration's rewrite of Title IX, which would have extended protections against discrimination to transgender students.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti celebrated the ruling, calling it a "massive win" and reaffirming opposition to what he called the "radical" changes proposed by the administration.
The NCAA's current transgender participation policy allows for a “sport-by-sport approach,” which it claims balances inclusion and safety for all athletes while preserving opportunities for transgender student-athletes.
The policy stipulates that transgender athletes must meet specific testosterone levels at three separate points: prior to competition during the regular season, before NCAA championship events, and before non-championship competitions.
Critics, however, argue that the policy fails to adequately address the concerns of fairness and safety in women’s sports.
"Our Bodies, Our Sports" is composed of several prominent organizations, including the Women’s Liberation Front, Concerned Women for America, and Women’s Declaration International USA.
These groups advocate for the protection of opportunities for female athletes and are united in their criticism of the NCAA's transgender athlete policy, which they argue undermines fairness in women’s sports.
As the NCAA Convention approaches, the call for a change to its policies on transgender athletes is gaining momentum, with a growing number of women’s rights organizations urging lawmakers and influential public figures to take a stand.
The outcome of this push remains to be seen, but with the new presidential administration and upcoming NCAA meetings, it is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports.