The debate around the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sport continues. NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who has continuously spoken out against the participation of trans athletes, has called out two of the biggest stars of women's soccer for what's she's described their "disingenuous" stance on the issue.
On various occasions, the Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan have argued in favor of transgender inclusion in women's sport. Rapinoe, who is well-known for her activism in various spheres of sport and society, was one of the key figures that vocally promoted and signed a letter to US lawmakers in April 2023 which sought to oppose the 'Protection of Girls and Women in Sports act.'
The bill which, as the name suggests, 'makes it a violation of federal law for a recipient of federal funds who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs or activities to permit a person whose sex is male to participate in an athletic program or activity that is designated for women or girls.'
Rapinoe also made headlines back in June 2022 after dismissing the idea that trans women are dominating women's sports and thus unfairly upsetting the competitive balance. "Show me evidence that trans women are taking everyone's scholarships, are dominating in evert sport, are winning every title. I'm sorry, it's just not happening. So, we need to start from inclusion, period. And as things arise, I have confidence that we can figure it out. But we can't start at the opposite. That is cruel. And frankly, it's disgusting," she said in an interview with Time Magazine.
In a similar vein, USWNT teammate Morgan argued that transgender kids should be allowed to participate with the gender they identify during the SheBelieves Cup in February of this year. The striker explained that she was determined to "stand up for what's right".
Gaines, a huge advocate for women's rights, fervently disagrees with their opinions, and spoke out strongly against them just a few weeks before they begin their World Cup campaign in Australia and New Zealand.
"It's disingenuous and it's virtue signaling. They want to be seen as kind. They want to be seen as inclusive, but they know in their hearts, every single person knows they wouldn't have had the opportunities and the success they had without the women's sport and category," she explained in an interview on Thursday with US broadcaster Fox.
They want to be seen as inclusive, but they know in their hearts, every single person knows they wouldn't have had the opportunities and the success they had without the women's sport and category
"Now they've achieved what they've achieved. They've accomplished what they wanted to accomplish, so they don't care," she continued. "They would rather give girls up, give away our opportunities to be seen as kind and inclusive when in reality this isn't inclusive, it's exclusive," she concluded.