Riley Gaines has claimed a significant legal victory in her high-profile challenge to the NCAA’s policies on transgender participation in women’s sport, after a federal judge ruled that her Title IX claim can proceed to the next stage.
The former collegiate swimmer, who has become one of the most prominent voices in the debate over transgender inclusion in sport, is leading a group of 19 current and former female athletes in a lawsuit against the NCAA.
The group argues that the governing body violated their Title IX rights by allowing transgender athletes, referred to in the suit as “biological males,” to compete in women’s events.
According to Outkick, the decision was handed down on Thursday evening by a federal judge in Atlanta, who dismissed several claims in the case but allowed the Title IX allegations to continue.
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The case now centres on whether the NCAA, which oversees collegiate sport in the United States, received federal funding and can therefore be held accountable under Title IX — the landmark 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programmes and activities receiving federal assistance.
The lawsuit was prompted by the events of the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where Lia Thomas, a transgender woman and University of Pennsylvania swimmer, won a national title in the 500-yard freestyle.
Riley Gaines has claimed a significant legal victory in her high-profile challenge to the NCAA’s policies on transgender participation in women’s sport, after a federal judge ruled that her Title IX claim can proceed to the next stage
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Gaines, who tied for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at the same championships, has repeatedly said she and other competitors were forced to share locker room facilities with Thomas, something she describes as a violation of their privacy and dignity.
“[Thomas] was fully naked and, of course, fully intact inches away from where we, 18-, 19-, 20-year-old girls, were fully undressed,” Gaines told Fox News earlier this year, recalling the incident that became a lightning rod for the wider debate.
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Lia Thomas dominated the NCAA Swimming Championships in 2022 | GETTY
In its ruling, the court dismissed claims against Georgia state officials and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association — which hosted the championships — leaving only the NCAA as the defendant.
Two additional claims against the association were also thrown out, meaning the legal fight will now focus exclusively on whether its policies breached Title IX protections.
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Gaines’ attorney, Bill Bock of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), welcomed the development, calling it an “important step forward.”
“We agree with the aspects of Judge Johnson’s order that permit this important lawsuit to proceed against the NCAA,” he said in a statement, adding that the group remains committed to seeking accountability for what they see as a failure to protect women’s sport.
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Riley Gaines is staunchly against transgender athletes competing in women's sports
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Gaines has since become a regular presence on American news networks, championing the cause of excluding transgender women from female sporting categories.
Supporters hail her as a defender of fairness, while critics argue her campaign is part of a wider political effort to restrict transgender rights.
The NCAA has not yet commented publicly on the ruling.
A trial date has not been set, but the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the future of inclusion policies across collegiate sport.