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(Philadelphia, PA) — The nationwide battle over the participation of transgender girls on girls sports teams has played out at both the state and federal levels. Republicans have framed the issue as a fight for athletic fairness for women and girls. More than two dozen states have enacted laws barring transgender women and girls from participating in certain sports competitions. Some policies have been blocked in court.
At the federal level, the Trump administration has filed lawsuits and launched investigations over state and school policies that have allowed transgender athletes to compete freely.
A group of college swimmers and volleyball players are suing the NCAA over its policies surrounding transgender athletes. The lawsuit alleges transgender woman Lia Thomas being allowed in the 2022 national championship violated the Title Nine rights. After Thomas’s transition, she became the first trans athlete to win a Division I title. The lawsuit also discusses the discomfort some of the cisgender athletes felt sharing a locker room with Thomas.
The University of Pennsylvania is banning transgender women from participating in its women’s sports programs. The Education Department announced July 1, 2025 that it had reached a deal with the university months after accusing it of violating Title IX rules when it allowed a transgender woman to join the women’s swim team. The agreement also mandates that the woman in question, Lia Thomas, have her records removed and her national title taken away. It’s not clear if the NCAA will rescind her Division I championship win in 2022. The university will also issue formal apologies to every biological female competitor who lost out to a transgender competitor following an investigation by the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
Thomas will also not be able to compete in the Olympics. The 25-year-old asked the Court of Arbitration for Sport to overturn a ban on trans women competing to qualify for the Games. World Aquatics rules state trans women cannot compete if they have gone through any part of the process of male puberty. A panel of three judges dismissed Thomas’ request. Thomas swam for the University of Pennsylvania and won an NCAA title.
In Nassau County, New York, a law has been enacted that restricts transgender athletes from participating in sports at county-owned facilities based on their gender identity. This law, which passed the county legislature, mandates that sports teams using these facilities must designate themselves as either “men’s,” “women’s,” or “coed,” based on the sex assigned at birth of their participants. This effectively prohibits transgender women and girls from competing on women’s or girls’ teams. The law has faced legal challenges from the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) on behalf of the Long Island Roller Rebels, a roller derby league that welcomes transgender women.
The Supreme Court agreed July 3, 2025 to hear a case over state restrictions on which school sports teams transgender students can join. Just two weeks after upholding a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth, the justices said they will review lower court rulings in favor of transgender athletes in Idaho and West Virginia. The case will be argued in the fall.
