Trans Athletes Have Deprived Women of Thousands of Medals, Prize Money: Report
A conservative think tank's analysis claims transgender athletes have impacted nearly 2,300 gold medals and over $500,000 in prize money for cisgender women and girls.
Transgender athletes have impacted nearly 2,300 gold medals and over $500,000 in prize money for women and girls in the United States over the past four decades, according to an analysis by Concerned Women for America (CWA), a conservative public policy nonprofit.
The report states that athletes competing in sports categories that do not align with their birth sex have displaced biological women from championship positions 2,293 times since the mid-1980s. The organization also found that these athletes have taken $501,498 in prize money from women and girls in professional sports.
Penny Nance, CEO and President of CWA, asserted in a press release, "Biological men have distinct advantages over biological women. This reality not only puts women in harm’s way, but it eliminates opportunities for biological women to earn a living and win competitions."
The think tank based its findings on data from HeCheated.org, an online database that documents instances of transgender women participating in women's sporting events. The analysis reportedly found that transgender athletes have competed in over 14,301 female sporting events, encompassing both amateur and professional levels.
Concerned Women for America is advocating for the passage of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, a proposed federal law that would prohibit transgender women from competing on female sports teams in educational institutions across the country. The bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives in January 2025 but has since stalled in the Senate.
The Senate Judiciary Committee convened a hearing titled, "Standing Up for Women in Sports: Ensuring Opportunity, Fairness and Safety for Female Athletes," to discuss the issue. This debate has been amplified by public figures, including WNBA player Sophie Cunningham, who stated in July that women "shouldn’t have to go against biological men" on the court. Cunningham clarified that her stance was not one of hate but a desire to protect young girls.
Another incident that fueled the controversy occurred in May when high school long jumper AB Hernandez, a transgender teen born male, achieved dominance in multiple girls' track and field events at a California regional competition. Outside the event, a rally organized by former NCAA athlete Sophia Lorey, called "Save Girls’ Sports," drew demonstrators who voiced concerns about the impact on female athletes.