The University of Pennsylvania’s decision to apologize for letting transgender swimmer Lia Thomas compete on its women’s team is a seismic win for fairness in sports, as OutKick reports. In a move that’s got the woke crowd clutching their pearls, Penn’s bowing to federal pressure to right a wrong that never should’ve happened. It’s a rare day when common sense outswims progressive dogma.
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights ruled earlier this year that Penn violated Title IX by allowing Thomas, a biological male, to compete against women in the 2021-22 season. Now, Penn has finalized a resolution agreement to address these violations, restore stolen records and titles to female athletes, and issue personal apologies to affected swimmers. The school’s now forced to define male and female by biological sex, a policy shift that’s as refreshing as it is overdue.
Paula Scanlan, a teammate of Thomas, described the emotional toll of changing in a locker room with a biological male for an entire season. “I am deeply grateful to the Trump administration for standing firm in protecting women and girls,” Scanlan said. Her relief is palpable, but it’s a shame it took federal intervention to affirm what should’ve been obvious.
Penn’s troubles began when it ignored Title IX’s protections, letting Thomas compete and upending women’s athletics. The 2022 NCAA Championships saw Riley Gaines tie Thomas for fifth in the 200-yard freestyle, a result now tainted by Penn’s misstep. Gaines isn’t mincing words, calling out the university’s failure to prioritize women’s rights.
“From day one, President Trump and Secretary McMahon made it clear that protecting women and girls is a top priority,” Gaines said. Her praise for the administration’s resolve is spot-on -- Penn’s apology wouldn’t exist without this kind of backbone. The progressive push to redefine fairness got a reality check.
The Department of Education didn’t just slap Penn’s wrist; it threatened financial consequences, given the school’s $1 billion in federal funds in 2024. Acting Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor made it clear in April 2024 that non-compliance wasn’t an option. Penn, unlike defiant Maine, chose to comply rather than lose its funding lifeline.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon hailed the resolution as a “great victory for women and girls” nationwide. She’s not wrong -- Penn’s agreement to restore women’s records and titles is a direct rebuke of the gender ideology that’s infiltrated sports. It’s a step toward ensuring female athletes aren’t sidelined by bad policy.
“Today’s resolution agreement with Penn is yet another example of the Trump effect in action,” McMahon said. The “Trump effect” she’s touting is really just enforcing the law, something Penn forgot how to do. Female athletes deserve better than being pawns in a social experiment.
Penn’s spokesperson tried to spin the resolution as a routine process, claiming the university is committed to a “respectful and welcoming environment.” Nice try, but that platitude doesn’t erase the harm done to women forced to compete against a biological male. The apology requirement proves that even Penn knows it messed up.
McMahon emphasized the need for apologies, noting that Penn’s actions left female swimmers’ dignity “impugned” in private spaces. “An apology was absolutely warranted,” she said. It’s a bitter pill for Penn, which now has to own its role in this debacle.
The resolution also mandates restoring Division I women’s records to their rightful winners. McMahon called this a “really big thing,” and she’s right—it’s a tangible fix for an injustice that robbed female athletes of their achievements. Penn’s finally being held accountable, and it’s about time.
Unlike Maine, which is still battling the feds over similar Title IX violations, Penn’s decision to stop allowing males in women’s sports shows a flicker of pragmatism. The university’s spokesperson cited compliance with federal requirements and NCAA rules as guiding factors. Translation: they saw the writing on the wall and folded.
McMahon hopes Penn’s resolution will serve as a model for other schools under investigation. “We’ll be using this resolution as a model to go by,” she said. If other universities take note, this could be a turning point for women’s sports across the country.
Riley Gaines sees broader implications, arguing that the agreement sends a “clear message” to schools disregarding women’s civil rights. “Your dignity, safety, and fairness matter,” she said. Her words carry weight for every female athlete who’s felt erased by the woke agenda.
Penn’s climbdown is a victory for reason, but it’s also a reminder of how far institutions have strayed from fairness. The resolution may not undo all the damage, but it’s a start. Female athletes can finally see a future where their rights aren’t sacrificed on the altar of political correctness.
