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On Thursday, a group of female athletes filed a lawsuit against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) over its decision to allow “transgender” athletes to compete against them and use locker rooms meant for women.
The lawsuit was filed by the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) on behalf of more than a dozen female athletes. It alleges that the NCAA violated Title IX, a federal statute that guarantees equal opportunity for men and women in college sports.
Its purpose is to prevent biological males from competing against female athletes. Additionally, it demands the NCAA rescind awards received by “transgender” athletes who competed against women in tournaments governed by the organization.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 16 former and current female collegiate athletes, including Riley Goins (swimmer, Gallatin, TN), Reka Gyorgy (swimmer, Blacksburg, VA), Kylie Allons (swimmer, Raleigh, NC), Kaitlyn Wheeler (Swimming, Springfield, IL), Ainsley Erzen (Track & Soccer, Des Moines, IA), Ellie Eads (Tennis, Floyds Knobs, IN), Lily Mullens (Swimming, North Canton, OH), Susannah Price (Track And Field, swimmer, Los Alamos, NM), Carter Satterfield (swimmer, Cary, NC), Kate Pearson (Virginia Beach, VA), Katie Blankinship (swimmer, Woodstock, GA), Julianna Morrow (swimmer, Mooresville, NC), And four other athletes are advancing. Pseudonyms to protect them from reprisals and reprisals.
ICONS said in a press release:
“This lawsuit against the NCAA is not just about competition; This is a fight for the essence of the women's game,” said Marshi Smith, Co-Founder of ICONS, a collegiate All-American and NCAA national champion swimmer. “We stand up for justice and the rights of female athletes to compete on a level playing field. It's about preserving the legacy of Title IX and ensuring that the future of women's sports is as bright as its past.
The athletes are challenging NCAA rules that allow male athletes to compete in women's sports. The lawsuit comes in the wake of a legal demand letter sent by ICONS in 2023. The lawsuit seeks to change NCAA policies that allow male athletes who identify as transgender to participate in women's sports. The plaintiffs, representing a broad coalition of female athletes across multiple sports, argue that the NCAA's rules compromise the fairness and integrity of women's competitive sports and violate the core principles of Title IX and discriminate against women.
“We're not just fighting for ourselves, we're fighting for every young girl who dreams of competing in sports,” said Riley Goins. “I am grateful for ICONS's commitment to our cause, especially their financial commitment that allowed us to take this to court. I urge anyone who cares about the safety of the women's game to help get behind us.”
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“By challenging the NCAA's harsh and discriminatory policies, we are sending a clear message: The integrity of the women's game cannot be compromised,” she said. ICONS co-founder Kim Jones, who is a collegiate tennis All-American and former US national team member. “We are committed to protecting the hard-won rights of female athletes everywhere. This is not just a legal battle; It's a moral stance for equality and justice in sports.”
“This lawsuit sends a message loud and clear that women will fight for the pillars of fairness and equal opportunity. We need to preserve those principles,” the swimmer said Reka Gyorgy, “We must seize this opportunity to safeguard our future.”
Read the filing below:
In January, ICONS submitted a legal demand letter to the NCAA:
Watch: