Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines' Lawsuit Against NCAA Over Transgender Athletes

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and other female athletes against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson on Monday, concluded that the NCAA does not receive federal financial assistance, and therefore is not subject to Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding.

Gaines and more than a dozen other athletes filed the lawsuit in March 2024, alleging that the NCAA violated their Title IX rights by permitting biological males to compete in women's events and use women's locker rooms. The suit specifically cited the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where transgender swimmer Lia Thomas became the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I championship. Gaines, who competed at the same event, stated that she and other female swimmers were required to share a locker room with Thomas.

Judge Johnson, who was nominated to the federal bench by President Joe Biden, found that while the NCAA and the Department of Defense both contributed funds to Indiana University for research, the Defense Department's money was directed to the university and other participants, not the NCAA itself. The judge also rejected arguments that the NCAA indirectly received federal funding or became a recipient through reimbursements for employee travel.

"Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds," Johnson wrote in her order. "Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed."

The ruling hinges on whether the NCAA is considered a recipient of federal financial assistance, a prerequisite for Title IX liability. It does not make a determination on whether the NCAA's former transgender-athlete policy constituted sex discrimination.

Gaines and her co-plaintiffs, including athletes from multiple sports, have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. Gaines expressed determination, stating, "This momentary setback will not deter me or other women athletes in the least. Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA."

The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), an organization co-founded by Gaines, has pledged to support the appeal. ICONS co-founder Kim Jones stated that the organization believes the judge erred and expects the appeals court to find the NCAA covered by Title IX. "We will not give up our fight for women and girls’ rights in sports," Jones said.

Previously, Judge Johnson had dismissed the plaintiffs' constitutional and bodily-privacy claims, as well as claims against state defendants. However, she allowed the Title IX claims against the NCAA to proceed temporarily in September 2025, pending further investigation into the NCAA's relationship with the Department of Defense for concussion research.

The NCAA has since changed its eligibility policies. In February 2025, following an executive order from President Donald Trump, the organization implemented rules prohibiting athletes assigned male at birth from competing on women's teams, though they may still practice with women's teams.

ICONS co-founder Marshi Smith also urged members of Congress to oppose the Protect College Sports Act, a bill supported by the NCAA that would establish national rules for athlete compensation, transfers, and eligibility, while providing antitrust protections. Smith argued that Congress should not grant additional authority to the NCAA, which she believes has failed to uphold women's rights.

The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.