Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has reignited the fight to protect women’s sports, reintroducing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (S.9) to cement President Donald Trump’s recent executive order barring biological males from competing against females.
The bill, set for a Senate vote on Monday, March 3, aims to enshrine Title IX safeguards into law, countering what Tuberville calls a four-year “sledgehammer” assault by the Biden administration that saw over 900 women lose trophies to men in women’s events.
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Tuberville, a 40-year coaching veteran, framed the legislation as a permanent fix to a “wildly unpopular” trend—79% of Americans, per polls, oppose men in women’s sports. “President Trump signed a historic Executive Order earlier this month banning men from competing in women’s sports and protecting Title IX,” he said in a statement. “Unfortunately, Executive Orders can be reversed. My bill would make it permanent.” The House passed a companion measure in January with bipartisan support, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) greenlit the upcoming vote, buoyed by a chorus of athletes, coaches, and advocates rallying behind S.9.
The push follows Trump’s February 5 executive action, which reversed Biden-era policies expanding Title IX to include gender identity—a shift critics say eroded female athletes’ opportunities.
Tuberville’s bill would codify sex-based distinctions, ensuring only biological females compete in women’s categories. Last year, his amendment to the same effect failed in a party-line vote, with all 51 Senate Democrats opposed. Now, with GOP control and Trump’s backing, momentum is building.
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Voices from across the sports world amplified the call. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said, “I’m proud to stand with … President Trump in fighting to restore the protections that Title IX was always meant to provide.” Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) dubbed it “the women’s rights issue of our time,” while Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.), who led the House version, urged swift Senate action: “The House has already passed my legislation … Now, the Senate must act.”
Athletes like Riley Gaines, a 12-time All-American swimmer, hailed Tuberville’s leadership. “We’re one step closer to ensuring women no longer lose trophies … to men in their own sport,” she said, urging senators to heed the 80% of Americans who agree. Paula Scanlan, who swam alongside transgender athlete Lia Thomas, added, “I never want another girl to experience the same.”
Coaches and ex-competitors echoed the sentiment—Jennifer Sey, a former gymnast, called it “basic biological truth,” while Kim Russell, axed as Oberlin’s lacrosse coach for opposing co-ed policies, pleaded, “Vote YES—for the young girls already competing.”
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Critics, including some Democrats, argue the bill excludes transgender athletes unfairly, but supporters like Sage Steele, a former ESPN host, countered, “You can’t call yourself a feminist and not support preserving Title IX.” San Jose State volleyball co-captain Sia Liilii, who faced male competitors, asked dissenters, “How many more female athletes have to get hurt … before you do something?”
With Monday’s vote looming, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act tees up a defining moment. Tuberville’s allies—from Capitol Hill to locker rooms—see it as a chance to lock in fairness for generations.
“This isn’t about politics,” said Macy Petty, a former volleyball player. “It’s about our lived experiences.” As the Senate prepares to act, the nation watches to see if Trump’s order becomes an enduring shield—or a fleeting win in a relentless culture war.
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