University of Pennsylvania Nominates Lia Thomas for NCAA ‘Woman of the Year’

The University of Pennsylvania has nominated transgender swimmer Lia Thomas for the NCAA “Woman of the Year” award.

Thomas is one of 577 nominated for the award. NCAA released the full list on Thursday.

According to the NCAA website the award was, “established in 1991, the award recognizes female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in their community, in athletics and in academics throughout their college careers”

NCAA Schools “are encouraged to celebrate their top graduating female student-athletes by nominating them for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award.”

The field will be narrowed and one will be chosen in August of this year.

Thomas was a simmer for the University of Pennsylvania in the women’s division. Her participation in NCAA women swimming events has brought national attention to women’s college swimming.

Many female swimmers are unhappy with the fact that Thomas has been allowed and promoted to participate in the Women’s division swimming.

Thomas is currently participating in hormone therapy and ranks 36th among female college swimmers.

Thomas had planned to swim at the 2024 Summer Olympic Trials in the women’s division. Recently FINA which sets the rules for the international swimming competitions banned transgender athletes from competing unless they had transitioned before the age of 12.

This would exclude Thomas from competing as a woman in international competitions as she is still in the process of transitioning.

As we reported earlier:

The new “gender inclusion policy” permits those who have transitioned before puberty or the age of 12 to compete in women’s events. The members voted 71.5% in favor of the policy. The governing body also working to set up an “open category” for them to compete in, saying “a new working group that will spend the next six months looking at the most effective ways to set up this new category.”

The country seems divided on how women’s sports should handle transgender athletes. Many female athletes view the acceptance of transgender women into their sports as an affront to Title IX.

We shall soon learn if the NCAA will choose Thomas as Woman of the Year or award one of the other 576 athletes nominated.