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Sue Bird, a Basketball Hall of Famer and WNBA legend, rejected the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) claim that its policy change was to protect women’s sports.
Bird agreed with US Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as transgender non-binary, writing that the IOC “didn’t address a problem that exists.” The former Seattle Storm star said the policy was just “fear-mongering.”
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Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird pose for a photo during the 2025 WNBA All Star Skills Challenge at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 18, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
“That kind of sums it up for me because what’s being presented as this huge problem that we have to protect women. It’s not,” Bird said, speaking to Megan Rapinoe on their “A Touch More” podcast. “What it is is terrifying and you brought up the (Trump) administration so they could get votes. That’s all this is. That’s all it’s ever been in my opinion.
“I think the other part is a reminder. What we’ve always talked about and focused on is that if you open this door, if you slam this door open, it’s going to be blown open and you’re not policing women’s bodies across the board. I’m very sorry for this. So to circle back to how we started, I just want to send so much love to the trans community.”
Earlier in the episode, Rapinoe ripped the IOC’s policy, denying that it was rooted in science.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaks to volunteers ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Thursday, January 29, 2026. (Daniele Mascolo/Pool Photo via AP)
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The IOC said that “qualification for any women’s category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological women, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY rescreening.”
The organization added that the policy was “evidence-based” and “expert-informed.” The test can be performed via saliva, cheek swab or blood test.
A presentation at a World Athletics panel in Tokyo in September revealed that 50 to 60 athletes with male biological advantages have been finalists in the women’s category at global and continental championships since 2000.
Retired American soccer player Megan Rapinoe looks on before a SheBelieves Cup match against Colombia at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
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The panel was chaired by the head of the World Athletics Health and Science Department, Dr. Stéphane Bermon, who said gender testing was needed because of an “overrepresentation” of DSD (differences in gender development) athletes among finalists, per more reports.
