The Truth About Trans Women in Women’s Sports: Facts, Not Fear
If there’s one thing people love, it’s a moral panic. And if there’s one thing they love more, it’s using trans people as the scapegoat for it. Enter the trans women in sports debate—a topic that has been twisted, stretched, and fear-mongered into something unrecognizable. So let’s set the record straight with facts, not fiction.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s start with the obvious: trans women are not dominating women’s sports. Despite what certain talking heads scream on cable news, there is zero statistical evidence that trans women have taken over female athletics. In fact, in the U.S., only about 0.5% of adults identify as transgender—and an even smaller percentage are athletes.
Looking at actual competition results, trans women are underrepresented in elite sports, not overrepresented. The NCAA has allowed trans women to compete for nearly two decades, and yet, out of half a million college athletes, we’re talking about a handful of trans competitors—most of whom don’t even place in the top ranks.
When trans women do succeed, their wins are dissected in ways that cisgender women’s victories never are. Case in point: Lia Thomas, a trans swimmer whose NCAA win ignited this entire debate. But did you know that Lia only won one event at nationals? In her other three events, she didn’t even make the podium. Meanwhile, cisgender athletes dominate every other category, and no one’s calling for bans on them.
The Science (That People Love to Ignore)
The main argument against trans women competing in women’s sports is that they have an unfair advantage due to testosterone. But let’s break that down:
Testosterone is not a magic performance booster. Studies show that testosterone alone does not determine athletic ability. Other factors—like training, nutrition, body composition, and skill—play a much bigger role.
Trans women undergo hormone therapy, which significantly reduces any advantage. Research shows that after one year of gender-affirming hormone treatment, trans women’s muscle mass, strength, and hemoglobin levels (which affect endurance) decrease to be comparable to cisgender women.
Sports already have natural variations in body types. Michael Phelps produces half the lactic acid of his competitors, meaning he doesn’t get tired as fast. Is that unfair? Should we ban tall basketball players because their height gives them an advantage? No? Then why are we suddenly pretending that fairness in sports has always been about everyone having the same physical abilities?
What’s Really Happening?
If this were actually about fairness in women’s sports, people would be talking about:
The massive funding gap between men’s and women’s sports
The lack of media coverage for women’s athletics
The horrific treatment of female athletes who speak out against abuse
The fact that men’s records are still significantly faster than women’s, even with trans inclusion
But instead, trans women—who make up a tiny fraction of female athletes—are being used as a distraction. Why? Because it’s easier to scapegoat a marginalized group than to actually support women in sports.
And it’s not just sports. This same debate plays out over and over again—whether it’s about bathrooms, legal definitions of womanhood, or basic human rights. If you want a deeper look at how these manufactured debates are used to erase trans people, check out Define Woman and Bathroom Bans.
The Real Threat to Women’s Sports
Let’s be honest: the people pushing bans on trans athletes are not feminist heroes. Many of them have spent decadesopposing women’s sports, equal pay, and Title IX. Suddenly, they claim to care? Please.
The real threats to women’s sports are:
The lack of investment in women’s teams
Sexual abuse and harassment by coaches and institutions
The unequal distribution of sponsorship deals and prize money
