Relatively few college athletes are transgender, but the sports debate remains broad

President Trump and many Republicans have made barring transgender women from women’s sports a central political issue, and the topic is expected to remain important in the midterms, but the number of athletes affected by an outright ban would be relatively very low. Addressing Congress in 2024, Charlie Baker, the president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, said there were fewer than 10 trans athletes competing out of the 510,000 students who played college sports.

It is unclear how many trans girls and women play sports at the K-12 level or in recreational programs across the country, and the number participating in competitive sports after college is also unknown. Supporters of bans say the issue affects more than individual transgender athletes, arguing it touches teammates and entire programs.

They say a trans woman could displace a teammate for a competition final, a starting lineup or an All-American team, or take a scholarship worth thousands of dollars to a family. In testimony to Congress in 2023, Paula Scanlan, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer, said, "I know women who have lost roster spots and spots on the podium.

I know of women with sexual trauma who are adversely impacted by having biological males in their locker room without their consent. I know this because I am one of these women." The debate includes differing personal responses among athletes.

Key Topics

Politics, Trans Athletes, Ncaa, Charlie Baker, Lia Thomas, Paula Scanlan