Lia Thomas, once known primarily for her accomplishments in collegiate swimming, has become a central figure in the ongoing national debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports. Her rise, achievements, and the institutional response to her participation have sparked emotional, political, and legal discussions. As of July 2025, the University of Pennsylvania has taken decisive action, agreeing to ban transgender women from competing on women’s teams and revising athletic records, following a federal investigation into potential Title IX violations.
Who Is Lia Thomas?
Lia Catherine Thomas is an American swimmer born in May 1999 and raised in Austin, Texas. She grew up excelling in freestyle events, earning All-American honors and a spot among the top high school athletes in Texas. In 2017, she began her college career at the University of Pennsylvania, initially competing on the men’s swim team.
In 2018, Lia came out as transgender to her family and coaches. She began hormone replacement therapy in 2019 and described the medical transition as an emotional and mental relief. Though she continued to swim with the men’s team during the 2019–20 season, she officially joined the women’s team for the 2021–22 season after fulfilling NCAA requirements, including 12 months of testosterone suppression.
In early 2022, Lia’s presence on the women’s team made waves. At the Ivy League meet, she broke school and league records. Her standout performance came in March 2022, when she won the NCAA Division I women’s 500-yard freestyle—becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win a national title in any NCAA sport. But with that historic victory came intense backlash. Critics questioned whether transgender women should be allowed to compete against cisgender women, citing concerns about physical advantage and fairness in competition.
What is the controversy around Lia Thomas?
The criticism of Thomas’s participation quickly extended beyond sports arenas. Political figures, advocacy groups, and fellow athletes expressed concern over competitive integrity. The matter escalated in 2025 when the U.S. Department of Education, under the Trump administration, opened an investigation into the University of Pennsylvania. The investigation centered on whether Thomas’s inclusion violated Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in educational settings.
UPenn’s agreement: A landmark decision
On July 1, 2025, People.com reported that the University of Pennsylvania had reached a settlement with the U.S. Department of Education following a federal investigation. As part of the agreement, the university committed to banning transgender women from participating on women’s athletic teams, revising athletic records to reflect biological sex, sending personal apology letters to female athletes who lost to Lia Thomas, and adopting biology-based definitions of male and female students. Education Secretary Linda McMahon hailed the decision as “a huge win for fairness and the future of women’s sports.” The Department also noted that Thomas had competed on the men’s swim team for three years before joining the women’s team. This settlement marks the first successful federal intervention requiring a university to roll back its policies on transgender athlete participation.
Legal fallout
While Lia Thomas and her legal team have not commented on the university’s decision, others involved in the case are taking action. According to reports, three former UPenn swimmers who competed against Thomas have filed a lawsuit in federal court against UPenn, the NCAA, and other governing bodies. They allege that allowing Thomas to compete violated Title IX and caused them emotional distress. With more states enacting similar policies and the federal government taking a stronger stance, the participation of transgender athletes in sports, especially women’s sports will remain a pressing and controversial issue. Lia Thomas’s story has already shaped the national dialogue. What happens next could redefine the future for countless athletes navigating questions of identity, inclusion, and justice.