Inclusion Strengthens Women’s Sports

The conversation around women’s sports and transgender athletes is often framed as a zero-sum debate: that in order to protect women’s sports, someone else must be excluded. This assumption is widespread - and deeply misleading.

The reality is far more straightforward. The best way to elevate all women in sports isn’t by restricting who can participate or policing people’s bodies and expression. It’s by creating inclusive environments where more people feel safe, supported, and encouraged to play.

The Myth: Inclusion Hurts Women’s Sports

One of the most common claims in debates about transgender women in sports is that inclusion somehow reduces opportunities for cisgender girls and women. This idea is repeated so often that it’s treated as fact - even though the data doesn’t support it.

According to research from the Center for American Progress, states with inclusive transgender athlete policies see up to 8% higher participation rates among cisgender girls in high school athletics. In other words, when sports environments are more inclusive, more girls participate - not fewer.

Inclusion doesn’t crowd people out. It brings people in.

States with inclusive transgender athlete policies see up to 8% higher participation rates among cisgender girls in high school athletics.

Transgender Athletes Are Rare - Not a “Wave”

Another major driver of fear-based rhetoric is the false perception that transgender athletes are competing in large numbers. In reality, transgender people participate in sports at significantly lower rates than the general population.

An HRC survey found that while 68% of all youth play sports, only 14% of trans boys, 12% of trans girls, and 14% of nonbinary youth play school sports. 

And when NCAA President Charlie Baker was interviewed by Congress in December 2024, he said that of the 520,000 athletes in the NCAA, he knew of “less than 10” who were transgender. 

There is no “mass influx” of transgender women dominating women’s sports. The controversy surrounding trans participation is wildly disproportionate to the actual number of athletes involved.

When policies are built around rare edge cases instead of real participation trends, the result isn’t fairness - it’s panic-driven rulemaking.

Injury Risk Claims Don’t Hold Up

A common argument against transgender inclusion is the claim that trans women pose a greater injury risk to cisgender women. Despite how often this is asserted, there is no solid evidence supporting it.

No credible data shows higher injury rates linked to transgender women’s participation in women’s sports. These claims rely on speculation, not science.

Fear isn’t a substitute for evidence.

The Real Harm of Exclusion

When we use biology as a tool to exclude people from sports, we reinforce a dangerous idea: that women’s bodies should be monitored, categorized, and scrutinized to determine whether they are “acceptable.”

This harms all women athletes.

Women who don’t conform to narrow expectations of femininity - whether because of their height, strength, hormone levels, appearance, or race - have long been subjected to suspicion and policing. Exclusionary policies don’t just affect transgender women; they normalize surveillance and judgment of women’s bodies across sports.

That is not protection. It’s control.

What Actually Elevates Women’s Sports

If the goal is to strengthen women’s sports, the solutions are clear, and they have nothing to do with exclusion.

Women’s sports grow when we fight for:

• Equal pay for women athletes

• Equal media coverage and storytelling

• Equal access to facilities, coaching, and resources

• Equal respect for all women, across identities and bodies

  
  

These are the factors that determine who gets to participate, who stays in sports, and who thrives.

Inclusion Is Not a Threat. It’s a Strength

Sports are valuable because they teach teamwork, resilience, confidence, and belonging. Those benefits don’t shrink when more people are included - they expand.

When we stand together instead of being pitted against one another, women’s sports become stronger, safer, and more sustainable for everyone.

The path forward isn’t exclusion.

It’s solidarity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Transgender Women in Sports

Do transgender women have an unfair advantage in women’s sports?

There is no credible, consistent evidence showing that transgender women categorically outperform cisgender women across sports. Athletic performance varies widely based on training, access to resources, coaching, and individual physiology. Governing bodies that regulate elite competition already use sport-specific policies to address fairness.

Are transgender women more likely to injure cisgender women?

No. Claims that transgender women pose a greater injury risk are not supported by evidence. There is no data demonstrating higher injury rates linked to the inclusion of transgender women in women’s sports.

How many transgender athletes are actually competing?

Transgender athletes participate in sports at significantly lower rates than the general population. The public controversy surrounding trans participation is vastly disproportionate to the number of athletes involved.

Do inclusive policies hurt cisgender girls’ participation?

No. Research from the Center for American Progress shows that states with inclusive transgender athlete policies see higher participation rates among cisgender girls in high school athletics - up to 8% higher.

Why does exclusion harm all women athletes?

Exclusionary policies often rely on policing bodies, hormone levels, or appearance. This reinforces harmful scrutiny that has historically targeted women who don’t fit narrow standards of femininity - including many cisgender women. These policies normalize surveillance rather than support.

What actually protects and grows women’s sports?

Women’s sports are strengthened by equal pay, equal media coverage, equitable access to facilities and coaching, and respect for all athletes. Inclusion expands participation and opportunity; exclusion undermines them.

Keywords: trans women in sports, women’s sports fairness, transgender athletes, inclusive sports policies, protect women’s sports