Action Center

Keep Women’s Sports Female

Open letter to athletic governing bodies and public servants to protect women’s sports.

Join female athletes across the country to urge athletic associations, policy makers, and government officials to reject calls to sacrifice female athletes on the altar of “inclusion” and to stand up for equal opportunity, fairness, privacy, and safety by enacting policies and laws that keep women’s sports female.

Open Letter
Keep Women’s Sports Female

June 21, 2023

Title IX is under attack, and women’s spaces are being erased. Faced with this reality, we have no choice but to stand up for women by defending basic truth. We implore all athletic governing bodies and public servants to join us in our fight to protect women’s sports and spaces.

More than 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of education, including athletics. Since then, there has been an explosion in female participation in all levels of athletics. But this progress is today being undermined — both by males seeking access to women’s sports and by government policies that have the potential to undermine the entire legal rationale for single-sex competition.

It is well known that male athletes dominate in sports where strength, size, or speed are relevant factors. That is because, physiologically, the average male is stronger, bigger, and faster than the average female.

Forcing female athletes to compete against males is not only unfair, it’s discriminatory. Allowing biological males to take awards, roster spots, scholarships, or educational opportunities away from female athletes violates Title IX’s prohibition of discrimination “on the basis of sex.”

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, which has passed the U.S. House of Representatives, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate, and which President Biden has promised to veto, would make this explicitly clear and put athletic organizations, athletic directors, and bureaucrats at the Department of Education on notice that they may not adopt policies that promote so-called “inclusion” at the expense of women.

We urge athletic associations, policy makers, and government officials to reject calls to sacrifice female athletes on the altar of “inclusion” and to stand up for equal opportunity, fairness, privacy, and safety by enacting policies and laws that keep women’s sports female.

We stand together in honor of the generations of women who came before us and in defense of all the women and girls who will come next.

Sincerely,

Riley Gaines
Swimming, 12X All-American
Independent Women’s Voice

Abby Carr
Swimming, NCAA

Addison Stiles
Softball, Volleyball

Adriana McLamb
Volleyball, NCAA

Ainsley Erzen
Track, Soccer, NCAA

Alanna Smith
Track & Field

Alayna Connor
Swimming, NCAA

Alexis Hyatt
Softball, Basketball

Alexis Payne
Volleyball, NCAA

Alison Sydor
Cycling, Olympian

Alli Van Schaack
Champion Women’s Field Hockey Team

Allison Stiles
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Ally Ledford
Volleyball

Anna Beth Minear
Tennis

Anne Mead
Volleyball, NCAA

Annie Grevers
Swimming, NCAA Champion

Annie Kunz
Track & Field, Olympian

April Hutchinson
Powerlifting, Professional

Aubree Wachacha
Softball, Volleyball, Basketball

Autumn Skinner
Soccer

Ava Queen
Basketball

Avery McNabb
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Barbara Ehardt
Basketball, NCAA
15-year Career Division I Women’s Coach

Beth Campbell
Soccer, NCAA

Blake Allen
Volleyball

Bonnie Blair
Speed Skating, Olympian

Bonnie Brandon
Swimming, Pan Am & World Championships Medalist

Bridget Michener
Lacrosse, NCAA

Brinkley Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Bronwyn Sims
Gymnastics National/State Championships, Pennsylvania

Brooke Graves
Basketball

Brooklyn Deaver
Softball

Brooklyn Orton
Track, Baseketball, Volleyball

Carol Brown
Rowing, Olympian

Carol Hansen
Gymnastics, NCAA

Carol Henry
Track, Canadian Record Holder, NCAA Bronze Medalist

Cassie Link
Track and Cross-Country

Carol Lewis
Track & Field, Olympian

Catalina Barrieo
Soccer

Catrina Allen
Disc Golf, World Champion

Charli Mcdaniel
Softball, Basketball

Chloe Roe
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Chloe Satterfield
Tennis

Christina Trucks
Track & Field, NCAA

Christine Witty
Speed Skating and Track Cycling, Olympian

Cindy Rusher
Rowing, Olympian

Cora Kimsey
Basketball

Courtney Bolling
Soccer, NCAA

Courtney Davis
Basketball

Cynthia Monteleone
Track and Field, Team USA, Masters

Cynthia “Sippy” Woodhead
Swimming, Olympian, 7 World Records

Dianna (DeeDee) Fussner
Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA)
Female Pro Master 50+ (FP50)

Dianne Holum
Speed Skating, 4x Olympic Medalist

Emma Laney
Basketball, Volleyball

Erin Donohue
Track and Cross-Country, Olympian

Erin Dudley Kagan
Softball, NCAA

Erin Powell
Lacrosse, NCAA

Evie Edwards
Cross Country, Cyclist

Grace McNabb
Basketball

Gracie Rhodes
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Haley Tanne
Track and Field, NCAA

Halli Gravley
Synchronized Skating, NCAA Club

Hannah Faulkner
USA Triathlon

Heather Formby
Track and Field

Holly LaVesser
Cyclist

Inga Thompson
Cycling, Olympian

Isabella Stiles
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Ivie Chapman
Basketball

Jade Dickens
Powerlifting, World Champion

Jamie Cortina
Field Hockey, NCAA

Jan Palchikoff
Rowing, Olympian

Janelle Parks Graham
Cycling, Olympian

Jaylan Hamby
Volleyball

Jeanavis Perry
Basketball

Jen Hucke
Volleyball, NCAA Champion

Jen Livsey
Track & Field, NCAA

Jenna Velardi
Soccer, NCAA

Jennifer Churchfield
Swimmer, NCAA

Jennifer Sey
Gymnastics, National Champion

Jeri Shanteau
Swimming, All-American

Jesse Gey Duke
Field Hockey, NCAA Champion, All American, Olympian

Jessi Martin
Lacrosse, NCAA

Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson
Hockey, 3x Olympic Medalist

Julia Marie Layno
Softball, Volleyball

Kacey McKinnon
Lacrosse

Kalli Hagelin
Softball

Karen Jansen
Golf, LPGA Champion

Karin Ratchinsky
National Soccer Team (Canada Jr.)

Katelyn Conlon
Track and Cross-Country

Kathy Smith Connor
Swimming, US National Team & NCAA Champion

Kathy Watt
Cycling, Olympian

Katie Gibson
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Katie McCarthy
Golf, NCAA

Katie McNabb
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Kaylee Helton
Soccer

Kelly Rickon Mitchell
Rowing, Olympian

Kelsey Bolar
Lacrosse, NCAA

Kerry Sheedy
Lacrosse, NCAA

Kim Jones
Tennis, All-American

Kimberly Carlisle
Swimming, Olympian

Kimberly Vach
Volleyball, NCAA

Kristin Hopson Addis
Lacrosse, NCAA

Kylee Alons
Swimming, NCAA Champion

Lacey Nymyer
Swimming, Olymipian
NCAA Woman of the Year

Lainey Armistead
Soccer, NCAA

Laura Cummings
Track and Cross-Country

Laura Wilkinson
Diver, NCAA, Olympic, and World Champion

Lauren Bondly
Triathlon Age-Group National Champion

Lauren Brooks
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Lauren Rinehardt
Soccer, NCAA

Leah Amico
Softball, 3x Olympic Gold Medalist

Leena Lape
Softball, Track

Lesley Meyer
Soccer, NCAA

Lindsay Shoop
Rowing, Olympian

Linnea Saltz
Track & Field, NCAA Conference Champion

Lisa L. Rainsberger
Track & Field, Olympian
Boston Marathon Champion

Lynn Hatcher
Golf, NCAA

Macy Petty
Volleyball, NCAA

Maddie Pelfrey
Volleyball

Madelyn Sestak
Volleyball, NCCAA

Madi Kenyon
Track & Field, NCAA

Madisan DeBos
Track & Field, NCAA

Maggie Malone
Track & Field, Olympian, NCAA National Champion, Elite Athlete

Margaret Gasperson
Softball, NCAA

Margaret O’Neal Monteleone
Track & Field

Margo Knorr
Track & Field, NCAA

Margo Simpson
Lacrosse, NCAA

Margot Kaczorowski
Swimming, NCAA

Maria Blower
Cycling, Olympian

Maria Broaddus
Volleyball, NCAA

Mariah Burton Nelson
Basketball, Pro

Marion Clignet
Cycling, Olympian

Marshi Smith
Swimming, NCAA Champion

Mary Forr Szoch
Basketball, NCAA National Champion Runner-Up

Mary I. O’Connor
Rowing, Olympian

Mary Kate Marshall
Track & Field, NCAA

Mary Louise Kellogg Lyman
Rowing, Olympian

Mary T. Meagher
Swimming, Olympian

Megan Burke
Track & Field, 2-time NCAA Champion American Record Holder

Micki King
Diving, Olympian

Monique Lamoureux-Morando
Hockey, 3x Olympic Medalist

Nancy Hogshead-Makar
Swimming, Olympian

Nikki Stone
Freestyle Aerial Skiing, Olympic Gold Medalist

Olivia McNabb
Softball, Volleyball, Basketball

Olivia Williams
Softball

Patricia Spratlen Etem
Rowing, Olympian

Paula Scanlan
Swimming, NCAA

Payton McNabb
Volleyball, Softball

Payton Palmer
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Paytyn Barker
Softball

Rachel Carter
University of Northern Colorado, UNC Tour Troupe Dancer 02′

Raime Jones
Swimming, NCAA

Reigan ONeal
Basketball

Rhi Jeffrey
Swimming, Olympic Gold Medalist

Riley Scott
Swimming, All-American

Rylie Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Sara Younger-Merrill
Rowing, Masters

Sarah Hokom
Disc Golf, World Champion

Sarah Parshall Perry
Softball

Sarah Powers-Barnhard
Volleyball, NCAA All-American, Team USA

Selina Soule
Track & Field, NCAA

Shannon Keeler
Lacrosse, NCAA Champion

Sheila Young Ochowicz
Speed Skating, Olympian

Shelby Kester
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Sky Taylor
Softball, Basketball

Sofia Van Arsdale
Track & Field, NCAA

Sue Walsh
Swimming, Olympian, NCAA/AIAW National Champion

Sydney Hickey
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Sydney Payne
Softball, Basketball, Volleyball

Taelyr Jackson
Softball, Track

Taylor Parkes Lane
Track and Cross-Country

Taylor S. Dolan
Alpine Skiing, NCAA

Taylor Silverman
Skateboarding, Professional

Tracy Evans
Freestyle Skiing, Olympian

Valerie McClain
Rowing, Olympic

Victoria Coley
Lacrosse, NCAA Club

COMPETITION REPORT

Competition: Title IX, Male-Bodied Athletes, and the Threat To Women’s Sports, written and published by Independent Women’s Law Center and Independent Women’s Forum synthesize the science and explain the changing legal landscape of American sports. LEARN MORE