Full Breakdown
Riley Gaines' Title IX Lawsuit Against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Dismissed
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Federal Judge Rules NCAA Not Covered by Title IX
On September 28, U.S. District Judge Tiffany Johnson of the Northern District of Georgia dismissed the lawsuit filed by former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and more than a dozen current and former female collegiate athletes. Johnson held that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that the NCAA receives federal financial assistance, a prerequisite for Title IX liability. The court also granted the NCAA’s motion for summary judgment on the remaining Title IX claims, closing the case at the district-court level.
Background & Context
The suit, filed in March 2024, alleged that the NCAA’s former policy allowing transgender women to compete on women’s teams violated the plaintiffs’ Title IX rights. The case focused on the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships, where transgender swimmer Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle and shared a locker room with female competitors, including Gaines, who tied for fifth in the 200-yard freestyle. In February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce Title IX based on biological sex; the NCAA rescinded its transgender-inclusion policy the following day.
Data & Statistics
- Plaintiffs: Riley Gaines plus more than a dozen current and former female athletes.
- NCAA membership: over 1,100 colleges and universities.
- Funding argument: Plaintiffs cited the NCAA’s participation in the Department of Defense’s CARE Consortium, which channels research funding to Indiana University, not directly to the NCAA.
Official Statements & Responses
- The NCAA said it complies with the Trump administration’s executive order and highlighted its investment in women’s sports.
- The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), which funded the lawsuit, called the NCAA’s response “empty words” and said it will continue the appeal.
Criticism & Opposition
- ICONS co-founder Kim Jones argued that the district judge erred and that the appellate court should find the NCAA subject to Title IX because most member schools receive federal funding.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds,” — Tiffany Johnson, district judge
- “We will not give up our fight for women and girls’ rights in sports,” — Kim Jones, ICONS co-founder
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Some sources note that in September 2025 Judge Johnson allowed limited discovery into the NCAA’s relationship with the Department of Defense, suggesting the Title IX claims survived temporarily, while later reporting describes a complete dismissal of all claims.
- The precise legal reasoning for why the CARE Consortium funding does not satisfy the “federal financial assistance” threshold is summarized by the judge but not detailed in public filings.
What’s Next
Gaines and ICONS have 30 days to file a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. The appellate court will consider whether the NCAA’s indirect connections to federally funded research bring it within Title IX’s scope.