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Sue Bird, a Basketball Hall of Famer and WNBA legend, dismissed the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) assertion that its policy change was to protect women’s sports.
Bird agreed with American Olympic runner Nikki Hiltz, who identifies as nonbinary transgender and wrote that the IOC is “not solving the problem at hand.” The former Seattle Storm player said the policy was “scary.”
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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. (Photos by Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn)
“That kind of sums it up for me because what’s being presented as this big issue 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 intimidation, and he has promoted the administration (Trump), to get votes. That’s all it is. All it ever was in my opinion.
“I think the other part is the reminder. What we always talk about and focus on is, if you open this door, if you open this door, we’re blown away and you’re not the police for women’s bodies across the board. I feel very sad about this. So, circling 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 and denied it was based on science.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry speaks to volunteers, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Daniele Mascolo/Pool Photo via AP)
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The IOC said “eligibility for any women’s category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to natural women, determined on the basis of a one-time SRY genetic test.”
The organization added that the policy is “evidence-based” and “informed.” The test can be done with saliva, a cheek swab or a blood sample.
A presentation at the World Athletics forum in Tokyo in September revealed that 50 to 60 athletes with a biological advantage over men had reached the finals in the women’s division at world and continental championships since 2000.
Retired United States soccer player Megan Rapinoe watches before the SheBelieves Cup match against Colombia at Sports Illustrated Stadium on March 7, 2026 in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photos by Brad Smith/ISI/USSF/Getty Images)
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The team was led by the head of the Department of Health and Sports Science in the world, Dr. Stéphane Bermon, who said the sex test was necessary because of the “overrepresentation” of DSD (sexual development difference) athletes among the finalists, according to multiple reports.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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