On October 10, a group of young female athletes were honored for their courageous stand against what they see as unfair competition in sports. This event, known as "XX Day," was founded three years ago by NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines to celebrate female athletes who challenge radical gender ideology. This year, the XX-XY Athletics Fund introduced several new winners for the 2025 Courage Wins Champions award, highlighting the bravery of high school athletes from Oregon and California.
These athletes, including Reese Eckard, Maddie Eischen, and Sophia Carpenter from Oregon, made headlines for refusing to compete against a male athlete at a track event last spring. They faced significant pressure and potential backlash, yet stood firm in their beliefs about fairness in sports. Their actions were not just a personal stand; they sparked a larger movement when All-American runner Sophia Castañeda joined them after experiencing bullying for speaking out against competing with biological males.
In California, sisters Alyssa and Madison McPherson, along with their teammate Hadeel Hazameh, have also taken a stand. They are involved in a lawsuit against their school district and the California Department of Education, advocating for the rights of girls to have their own sports categories. Despite facing harassment and intimidation, they remain committed to their cause, emphasizing the importance of standing up for what is right.
Jennifer Sey, the founder of XX-XY Athletics, expressed her admiration for these young women. She noted that their courage is inspiring others to speak out for fairness in women’s sports. Sey believes that the current climate, where threats and bullying have intensified, calls for more voices to join the conversation. The Courage Wins Champions receive financial support and access to a leadership program to help them continue their advocacy.
These young athletes are challenging powerful entities, including Nike and state officials, who support policies allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports. Their determination reflects a growing movement among female athletes who want to ensure equal opportunities and protect the integrity of women’s sports.
As they continue their fight, these athletes remind us that standing for fairness can be a powerful act. Their message is clear: women deserve a level playing field, and they are willing to take risks to defend it.
