27 States Urge NCAA to Reinstate Women’s Records and Awards “Wrongfully Awarded to Male Athletes”
Alabama joins States requesting return of awards, extension of bans to practices as well as competitions
In a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, urging the NCAA to restore titles, awards and records to female athletes that male competitors previously claimed under now‑retired policies. The letter, dated July 22, 2025, was co‑signed by Attorneys General from 27 States, including Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.
“Allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports puts girls and young women at a profound disadvantage,” Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said. “Science backs our arguments up: biological males have clear physical advantages, and a majority of Americans agree, this isn’t fair or safe. Recent policy changes banning men from women’s sports are a step in the right direction, but they do not erase the injustice already done. There are women out there who had titles, records, and victories ripped away from them, and the NCAA owes it to those athletes to make it right. Fairness must be restored.”
The letter argued that NCAA and federal policies under the Biden administration had enabled biological males to compete in women’s NCAA events, thereby denying deserving women their earned recognition. It called on the NCAA to fully reinstate those titles and recognitions: “The NCAA should take this step for former athletes to preserve the integrity of Title IX and show your support for the women harmed by years of bad policy.”
The Attorneys General acknowledged the NCAA’s February 2025 policy update limiting women’s sports competition to those assigned female at birth, but urged that the policy also be extended to practices, not just official competition. They noted that training and practice environments matter, and argued that leaving male athletes out of practice settings is also necessary for fairness.
The coalition’s letter referenced a February 11, 2025, letter from the U.S. Department of Education, which similarly asked the NCAA to restore records and recognitions previously awarded to transgender women athletes.
Notably, the University of Pennsylvania recently reached a settlement with the federal government, agreeing to remove three women’s swim records set by Lia Thomas and reinstate the prior record holders, along with issuing apologies to affected cisgender athletes. That action is seen as setting a precedent that NCAA institutions and the NCAA itself should follow.
Since assuming office, former President Donald Trump has supported Title IX enforcement and signed Executive Orders aimed at protecting women’s sports. The coalition’s letter echoed those efforts and emphasized the need to rectify past injustices for women athletes.
Joining Alabama in the letter were State Attorneys General from Mississippi, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
The letter may be read HERE.
