A new wave of backlash has erupted against the NCAA’s latest transgender inclusion policy, with female athletes calling out the organization for what they see as an inadequate and unfair attempt to protect women’s sports.
The outrage follows President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive order, which has significantly restricted transgender participation in sports, leading to a controversial NCAA policy that many say is failing both sides of the debate.
In a powerful video released by XX-XY Athletics, a group of female athletes took direct aim at the NCAA’s response to Trump’s executive order. Their message was clear: the policy is vague, flawed, and does little to protect women’s sports from what they see as unfair competition.
“We see you, NCAA,” the video began. “You announced a new policy after Trump’s executive order. This policy does not protect females. It sets no clear boundaries.”
The core issue raised by the athletes is the policy’s reliance on birth certificates as proof of sex. While the NCAA has stated that it will not allow athletes who were “assigned male at birth” to compete in the women’s category, the policy still permits transgender athletes to practice with women’s teams and access the same benefits as female athletes.
Critics argue that this loophole does nothing to ensure fairness in women’s sports and creates an unsafe environment in locker rooms and training facilities.
Furthermore, the athletes pointed out that in all but six states, birth certificates can be legally altered, making them an unreliable standard for determining eligibility.
“We demand fair sports. We deserve safe sports,” they declared. “And if you won’t stand up for female athletes, we will.”
At the heart of the controversy is Trump’s recent executive order, which has dismantled key protections for transgender athletes at the federal level. The order defines gender strictly based on biological sex at birth, effectively barring trans women from competing in women’s sports and cutting off federal support for gender-affirming policies in schools and athletic programs.
This aggressive rollback of trans rights has sparked outrage among LGBTQ+ advocates, who argue that the policy is not only discriminatory but cruel. The NCAA, caught in the middle, has attempted to adjust its own rules to align with the federal mandate—but in doing so, it has angered both women’s sports activists and transgender rights supporters.
For female athletes, the NCAA’s policy is still too lenient, allowing trans women to remain a part of women’s teams in practice settings. For trans athletes, the policy represents another devastating roadblock, reinforcing the idea that they do not belong in competitive sports at all.
“We’ve been spit on. We’ve been yelled at. We’ve been called terrible names. We’ve been shot at,” the women in the video said, underscoring the growing tensions around the issue. “They’ve tried to silence us. But we are not going away.”
The NCAA has defended its new policy, arguing that it follows federal law while maintaining a standard for women’s sports. However, its stance has been widely criticized for trying to appease both sides without providing a clear or effective solution.
An NCAA spokesperson stated that while trans athletes will not be allowed to compete in women’s sports, they will still be permitted to practice with the team, as male practice players have long been a part of women’s college sports.
This statement has only fueled further backlash, as critics argue that allowing transgender athletes to practice but not compete is contradictory and sends a mixed message.
While the NCAA insists that no waivers will be granted for trans women to compete based on amended birth certificates, the policy has done little to ease tensions. Female athletes continue to demand a stronger stance, while LGBTQ+ advocates accuse the organization of bowing to political pressure and turning its back on trans athletes.
Trump’s policies have ignited a new battleground in the ongoing fight for trans rights in America. His administration has taken an aggressive stance, issuing multiple executive orders that strip away transgender protections in sports, healthcare, and military service.
For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the NCAA’s response is yet another example of institutions failing to stand up against the administration’s relentless attacks on trans rights. With Trump’s policies in place, the battle over trans inclusion in sports is only set to escalate further.
Meanwhile, female athletes are vowing to continue their fight to preserve the integrity of women’s sports. As one of them stated in the viral video, “NCAA women’s teams are for female athletes only. That means those born female. XX only, no substitutes.”
The NCAA, stuck between legal obligations and growing public outrage, is left scrambling for a solution. But as long as Trump remains in power, the push to erase trans rights in sports—and beyond—will likely continue.
