The fight has only just begun

The GIST: Hours into National Girls and Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) on Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order barring trans athletes from competing in women’s sports. And the NCAA followed suit yesterday, limiting collegiate women’s competition to athletes who were born female, effective immediately.

The context: While not law, an executive order is a written directive from the highest office in the land, ordering the U.S. government to prioritize whatever policies the president sees fit — and Trump is no stranger to anti-trans rhetoric, a stance that unfortunately sees widespread support across the country.

• But from the youth level to high school to college, it’s difficult to know exactly how many trans athletes there are in the U.S., though it is not believed to be many.

• In December 2024, NCAA President Charlie Baker testified that he was aware of fewer than 10 trans athletes among the 544K student-athletes competing at the NCAA level.

• Yesterday, Baker cited the “clear national standard” established by Trump as the basis for the NCAA’s new trans athlete ban.

The impact: Under Trump’s order, schools and athletic programs can now be held liable for violating Title IX — the U.S. federal law that forbids discrimination on the basis of sex — if trans athletes compete in girls’ or women’s sports. Infractions could result in federal funding being pulled.

• One day after the order, the Education Department is already investigating San Jose State University and the University of Pennsylvania, where Title IX violations have been reported regarding trans athlete participation on women’s teams.

• As the stats and stories shared on NGWSD show, participating in sports has an immeasurable positive impact, on the field and beyond. To strip trans folks of that opportunity marginalizes an already-vulnerable group — sports are for all girls and women. Full stop.

How to help: Consider supporting groups like Athlete Ally and You Can Play, who work tirelessly to ensure the LGBTQIA+ community, and specifically trans athletes, are welcomed in sport. The fight has only just begun.

The GIST: And just like that, perhaps the most shocking trade deadline in NBA history has come and gone — but not before hearts were broken and whiplash set in.

• One of the final chips to fall? Disgruntled Miami Heat superstar Jimmy Butler, who’s on his way to the Golden State Warriors after Wednesday’s blockbuster trade. That’s right, the saga is officially over.

The background: The six-time NBA All-Star’s five-year stint in Miami wasn’t always tumultuous, but failed max contract negotiations over the summer paired with a difficult season start soured Butler’s relationship with the team. Three Heat-issued suspensions later, Butler hasn’t stepped foot on the court since January 21st.

Butler traded to Golden State Warriors, inks two-year extension: Golden State was always considered a potential landing spot for Jimmy Buckets as the Warriors, though they didn’t want to admit it, needed a third star to complement Steph Curry and Draymond Green. Now, the dynamic duo is a trio again as the franchise hopes to catapult themselves back into the title conversation.

• As for the Heat, the frustrating back-and-forth is in the rearview, and the team picked up some serious assets in the forced trade, receiving Andrew Wiggins, who’s bounced back after a difficult 2023–2024 season, and a 2025 first-round pick. Wins all around.

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⛳ LPGA: Founders Cup — Today through Sunday — Golf Channel

• While the PGA hosts a (slightly less) rowdy WM Phoenix Open, the women’s Tour is honoring its roots. Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen and American Jennifer Kupcho sit atop the leaderboard with three rounds still to play. No ifs, ands, or putts.

🏒 Rivalry Series: Team USA vs. Team Canada — Tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET — NHL Network

• The red, white, and blue notched a 2–1 shootout win over the Canadians last night, evening the five-game battle at two apiece. That means the fifth edition of the always spicy Rivalry Series comes down to game five. Drop — and we can’t stress this enough — that puck.

🏀 Unrivaled: Lunar Owls BC vs. Laces BC — Tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET — TNT

• Prepare for a sequel that won’t disappoint as Unrivaled founders — the undefeated Owls’ Napheesa Collier and the Mist’s Breanna Stewart — go head-to-head in a rematch of the league’s opening game.

🎓🏀 NCAA women’s basketball: No. 2 South Carolina vs. No. 4 Texas — Sunday at 2 p.m. ET — ESPN

• It’s not March just yet, but it sure feels like it with this top-five rematch gracing our screens. Will the Gamecocks continue crushing their SEC opponents, or can the Longhorns enact revenge for January’s 17-point loss?

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👑 Not everyone can be the Princess of Genovia, but with a handoff from Verizon, a career in sports media is closer than you think — check it out today.