A federal judge has dismissed a Title IX lawsuit brought by a group of athletes, including former University of Kentucky swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines, against the NCAA. The lawsuit argued that the NCAA violated the athletes’ rights by permitting biological male competitors to participate in women’s sports.
On Monday, Judge Tiffany R. Johnson ruled that the NCAA does not fall under Title IX protections, citing that the organization “doesn’t receive federal funding.” The judge noted the absence of evidence showing that the NCAA had received federal financial aid. In response, NCAA spokesperson Meghan Wright emphasized that the organization is committed to promoting and expanding women’s sports, asserting their compliance with the executive order from the Trump administration regarding women’s athletics.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Gaines expressed her intention to appeal the ruling. She stated, “This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least. Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth.” Gaines is hopeful that Americans will join their efforts to challenge the NCAA’s actions regarding women’s rights in sports. She expressed a desire for the case to reach the Supreme Court to clarify legal standards that protect female athletes.
The Title IX law is designed to “prohibit sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance,” according to the U.S. Department of Education. The lawsuit, filed in 2024, was prompted by events at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where concerns arose over the participation of Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle title after previously competing on the men’s team as Will Thomas.
The lawsuit also voiced privacy concerns regarding Thomas’s access to the women’s locker room, highlighting that some female athletes felt uncomfortable changing next to someone who was biologically male, which they argued infringed upon their right to bodily privacy.
Significantly, Thomas’s performance shifted dramatically — going from 19th place in the men’s division to securing 1st place in the women’s division, thus winning a Division 1 title. Kylee Alons, a 31-time All-American swimmer who competed against Thomas, remarked, “The NCAA did not protect me or my fellow swimmers or even warn us of what to expect. My privacy and safety were being violated in the locker room.”
