Happy New Year 2025

Category: Sports

Braxton Berrios breaks down how Tua Tagovailoa’s injury derailed Dolphins’ 2024 season

NEW ORLEANS – Injuries can be a make-or-break storyline for just about every team in the NFL, no matter the season.

For the Miami Dolphins last season, it was a big one, which is never a good thing.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his fourth documented concussion, this time while running for a first down in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills.

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa walks onto the field prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium. (Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images)

Another concussion for Tagovailoa meant four missed games, and the Dolphins went 1-3 in that span to quickly fall to 2-4 on the season. Of course, this is a Miami squad that has all the firepower to take the top off defenses and run up the scoreboard.

However, like Braxton Berrios, one of the Dolphins last season who unfortunately could not play all 17 games due to a torn ACL, said, “Injuries happen.”

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When they happen to a quarterback like Tagovailoa, who is the key to making Mike McDaniel’s fast-paced, timing-oriented offense work, it can derail a season.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Braxton Berrios, #0, works out during joint practice with the Washington Commanders at Baptist Health Training Complex. (Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports)

“I think a lot of times, things don’t fall your way some seasons,” Berrios, who was at Radio Row ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans on behalf of IRCode, said. “I think that’s part of the game – it’s an imperfect game played by imperfect people. Injuries happen, a lot of different things happen.”

Tagovailoa was finally able to come back in Week 8, but the Dolphins did not click immediately. They lost his first two starts back before finally dropping the streak on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.

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However, it was a season where the Dolphins did not control their own playoff destiny as they had in the past, and they missed out on a wild card spot.

Tagovailoa took the season especially tough, knowing things might have been different if he had played all 17 games. Again, to Berrios’ point, injuries can come at the worst times.

He used another team as a perfect example.

“You look at Detroit, their defense was decimated,” he said of the Lions. “Those fans could easily say, ‘If we didn’t get so injured, we might be here.’ And they’re probably absolutely right. But the fact of the matter is, it’s part of the game and you just gotta go with it. Injuries can derail things some seasons, and you just got to pick up where you left off, and use it as motivation, as anything else.”

Berrios will be heading to free agency this offseason, but he has no doubt those in the Miami building are the right ones to get back to playoff football in 2025.

“I think the people in the locker room were the right ones,” he said. “Obviously, free agency will happen and who knows there, but I think that staff and that upstairs team is in the absolute right direction. I think they have what it takes, but you just need a few more things to shake your way. We’ll see what happens in free agency.”

No matter where he might end up, Berrios knows exactly how good Tagovailoa can be when he is 100% healthy on the field.

“First and foremost, incredible guy. Very good friend, we’re actually together this weekend hanging out,” he said. “Incredible athlete, and the accuracy and timing are second to none. He makes the offense tick, obviously. All of sudden when he comes back, everything is rolling like it’s supposed to.”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

CHANGING THE GAME WITH IRCODE

Berrios was down in New Orleans on behalf of IRCode, which is changing the way we interact with content, whether it be watching TV or looking at an image.

The football star broke down the “absolutely crazy” experience he had with the technology that he believes will revolutionize the connectivity of brands with consumers.

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“To watch live sports and be able to interact digitally [and] immediately? The instant gratification thing is a huge thing in our society, and so is the gamification. So, for me, it’s such a cool way for me to interact with fans in a different way, a live way. If I have something I want to promote or I want to push, when they scan me on TV instead of just getting my jersey, [or] fantasy stats, whatever it is, I can plug in my foundation or anything else I want to lead or direct them to. It’s first of its kind and a really cool way for us to interact with fans.”

“You open the app, you don’t have to press anything or open anything. It scans it for you and it takes you wherever you’re supposed to be. It’s really cool.”

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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova says she hates ‘Democrats totally failed’ on protecting women’s sports

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova criticized Democrats on Wednesday after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to protect girls and women’s sports.

Trump signed the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order from the East Room of the White House. The order gave federal agencies the power to ensure that entities receiving federal funding abide by original Title IX standards.

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President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sporting events, in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Navratilova, a lifelong Democrat who has championed fairness in women’s sports, ridiculed the other side of the aisle for failing to do what the president did.

“I hate that the Democrats totally failed women and girls on this very clear issue of women’s sports being for females only,” she wrote in a post on X.

RILEY GAINES: THE ALL-OUT WAR ON FEMALE ATHLETES ENDS NOW, THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP

It is not the first time Navratilova criticized the political party for not doing more to protect women’s sports. She expressed her frustration last month when the House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Only two Democrats voted with Republicans on the bill.

Martina Navratilova in a joint press conference with Chris Evert on day five of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun in Cancun, Mexico, on Nov. 2, 2023. (Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports)

“More Dems need to step up here. I know many who agree but are scared to speak up because of re-election. I say do the right thing. Grow a spine,” she wrote on X.

Before Trump signed the executive order, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt implored the Senate to take the bill up for a vote because executive orders could be overturned.

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President Donald Trump speaks in the East Room of the White House on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025 in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“It’s incredibly important Congress immediately acts on this priority,” Leavitt added. “I think the president is really setting the tone, making this a very immediate priority for this administration, just as he promised to do on the campaign trail.”

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Pete Alonso returning to Mets on short-term deal: reports

The New York Mets are bringing back first baseman Pete Alonso on a two-year, $54 million deal, according to multiple reports.

The deal reportedly comes with an opt-out after 2025. The deal also reportedly comes with a $10 million signing bonus and a $20 million salary for 2025, with a $24 million player option for 2026.

Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He’s also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS.

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Oct 8, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) reacts after walking in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during game three of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citi Field. (Brad Penner-Imagn Images)

Alonso’s uncertain return to the Mets was one of the most-discussed storylines of the MLB offseason. Team owner Steve Cohen expressed skepticism the team would re-sign the star sluggers during an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day in late January.

There, Cohen said the negotiations with Alonso were going “worse” than they had with the team’s offseason big offseason signing, Juan Soto.

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Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets reacts after flying out to left field to end the bottom of the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citi Field on May 25, 2024 in New York City. (Mike Stobe/Getty Images)

“We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market,” Cohen said. “That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse.”

Still, Cohen never ruled out Alonso’s return.

“I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are,” Cohen said.

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New York Mets first base Pete Alonso (20) runs the bases after hitting run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. (Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

“I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”

Now, Alonso is back in Queens and will be paired with Soto for at least one season.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 6, 2025
Rory McIlroy offers condolences to fellow golfer Tiger Woods after death of Woods’ mother

Tiger Woods is mourning the death of his mother, Kultida Woods, describing her In a social media post as “a force of nature all her own.”

Woods said she died Tuesday morning.

“It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” he said. “My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh.”

Woods did not share details about his mother’s cause of death.

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Golfer Tiger Woods, right, hugs mother Kultida Woods during a press conference at TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Feb. 19, 2010. (Lori Moffett/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Fellow professional golfer Rory McIlroy also paid tribute to Woods’ late mother. During a press conference after a TGL event, McIlroy recalled Kultida Woods’ most recent show of support for her son. Last week, she watched Tiger participate in a simulator-based series in Florida.

“Yeah, obviously very sad, sort of surreal. She was here last Monday night. Yeah, it seemed sudden. I got to know Tida a little bit. She was always very warm, very courteous and generous with her time. Yeah, it was always a delight to see her at tournaments,” McIlroy said.

Tiger Woods and his mother, Kultida Woods, react as they pose for photos before his induction at the 2022 World Golf Hall of Fame at the PGA Tour Global Home March 9, 2022, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

“As time went on, you sort of saw her less and less, and you’d bump into her in player dining, and it was always nice to see her. She always had a big smile. Yeah, you obviously feel for Tiger and Sam and Charlie and wish them all the best. Yeah, it’s a sad day.”

TRUMP OFFERS TIGER WOODS HIS CONDOLENCES AFTER DEATH OF GOLFER’S MOM

McIlroy, Woods and TMRW Sports founder Mike McCarley partnered with the PGA Tour to launch the golf league, which is in its inaugural season. TGL also honored Woods’ mother before Tuesday’s match between Boston Common Golf and Los Angeles Golf Club.

“Prior to the match tonight here at SoFi Center, we held a moment of silence honoring Tida Woods, who was so instrumental in Tiger’s life and his success. Throughout his amateur career as a young phenom in California and through his major championships and even here at TGL, the very league her son co-founded, she was here to support him,” ESPN’s Matt Barrie said during the broadcast.

“Last week, in fact, last Monday, Tida was ever present here at SoFi Center, cheering on Tiger, who got the win. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tiger, Charlie and Sam and everyone for the loss of Tida Woods. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Kultida met Earl while he was in the military in Thailand. Kultida and Earl moved to Brooklyn, New York, after they tied the knot. The couple later relocated to Cypress, California, where Tiger was born. Earl Woods died in California in 2006.

ESPN noted that Tiger, whose real name is Eldrick, was named after his mother and father. The name Eldrick begins with an E in honor of Earl and ends with a K in honor of Kultida.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Patrick Mahomes responds to possibility Trump will attend Super Bowl LIX

Donald Trump is expected to become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl Sunday to watch Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs attempt to become the first team in NFL history to win a third straight Super Bowl.

Mahomes gave his thoughts on Trump attending the game to reporters Wednesday.

“It’s always cool to be able to play in front of a sitting president,” Mahomes said. “Someone that is at the top position in our country.”

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Earlier Wednesday, when Trump was asked who he expected to win the Super Bowl, the president didn’t give a definitive answer but alluded to Mahomes’ success.

“I don’t want to say, but there’s a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner,” Trump said when asked which team he’s rooting for.

President Donald Trump, accompanied by Ivanka Trump, speaks before signing the National Security Presidential Memorandum to launch the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity initiative. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

While Trump didn’t identify Mahomes by name, he has expressed fondness and respect for the quarterback and his wife Brittany in recent months. The other quarterback playing in the game, Eagles star Jalen Hurts, has yet to win a Super Bowl.

Mahomes recognized Trump was probably talking about him and gave his thoughts about the cryptic praise from the president.

“It’s cool to hear that he’s seen me play football and respects the game that I play,” Mahomes told reporters Wednesday.

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Mahomes’ mother, Randi Mahomes, endorsed Trump just days before the Nov. 5 election in a video to OutKick.

Other Chiefs figures have also acknowledged the historical impact Trump’s presence will bring to the game.

Gracie Hunt, the daughter of Chiefs team owner Clark Hunt, spoke to Riley Gaines on OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast and reacted to Trump’s remarks.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s pretty awesome,” she told Gaines. “Sometimes, I just look at whoever I’m talking to, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, that just wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card.’ But, wow, that’s just absolutely incredible.”

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce called it an “honor.”

CHIEFS DYNASTY TIMELINES: HOW LOVABLE LOSERS BECAME AN EVIL EMPIRE

“I think, you know, no matter who the president is, I know I’m excited because it’s the biggest game of my life, you know. And having the president there, you know, it’s the best country in the world. So, that’d be pretty cool,” Kelce said.

The tight end said this despite dating Taylor Swift, a longtime Democrat who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Mahomes declined to endorse a candidate in the recent election when reporters pressed him about it Sept. 11, but he did encourage people to vote in the best interest of their families.

“I don’t want my place and my platform to be used to endorse a candidate or do whatever, either way,” Patrick said at the time. “I think my place is to inform people to get registered to vote. It’s to inform people to do their own research and then make the best decision for them and their family.”

Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Brittany incited controversy and support in August when it was revealed she liked an Instagram post by Trump that laid out his 2024 policy agenda. She addressed the backlash multiple times and appeared to double down on her support for Trump with additional social media likes. Trump even thanked her for the support in a post on Truth Social.

After Swift endorsed Harris Sept. 10, Trump said in an interview on “Fox & Friends” the next morning he liked Brittany “much better” than Swift.

Patrick Mahomes commended his wife’s influence Sept. 11 when asked about Trump’s comments about her.

“I think you see Brittany does a lot in the community,” Mahomes told reporters. “At the end of the day, it’s about me and my family and how we treat other people.”

After the Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFC championship game Jan. 26, Trump sent a congratulatory post to the team on Truth Social.

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After the Eagles won their only Super Bowl in February 2018, they skipped out on visiting Trump at the White House.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 6, 2025
Heat to trade Jimmy Butler to Warriors: report

Jimmy Butler is reportedly on the move with hours left before the NBA trade deadline.

The Miami Heat agreed to trade Butler to the Golden State Warriors for Andrew Wiggins, Dennis Schroder, Kyle Anderson and a protected first-round pick, ESPN reported Wednesday.

The trade will mark the bitter end between Butler and the Heat organization.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes admits Super Bowl loss to Tom Brady, Buccaneers still stings

Patrick Mahomes is a big reason the Kansas City Chiefs have hoisted the Vince Lombardi Trophy in back-to-back seasons. He was named the Super Bowl MVP after winning each of those championships.

Mahomes earned Super Bowl MVP honors for the first time in the Chiefs’ win over the San Francisco 49ers in the 2020 game.

While Mahomes enters Sunday’s big game in pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl title, he admitted his second time playing the NFL’s title game still sticks with him.

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Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs before the Super Bowl against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In his first season with the Buccaneers, Tom Brady led Tampa Bay to the 2021 Super Bowl. On Wednesday in New Orleans, the site of this year’s Super Bowl, Mahomes was asked if there was a particular game that still keeps him restless.

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Mahomes mentioned the 31-9 loss to Brady and the Bucs in the Super Bowl.

“The Super Bowl versus Tampa,” he responded. “That’s pretty easy.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (left) greets Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after the Super Bowl at Raymond James Stadium Feb. 7, 2021. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports)

Mahomes finished that game with 270 passing yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. While Brady threw for fewer yards — 201 — he was credited with three touchdowns through the air and did not commit a turnover.

Brady will be in the FOX broadcast booth when this Sunday’s Super Bowl kicks off. Instead of preparing for a matchup with the seven-time Super Bowl champion, Mahomes and the Chiefs will focus on trying to counter Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

Hurts is making his second career appearance in the league’s championship game. The Eagles selected Hurts in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He helped Philadelphia advance to the 2023 Super Bowl, but the Eagles lost 38-35 to the Chiefs. This year’s game in New Orleans will be a rematch of that Super Bowl from two years ago.

Super Bowl coverage begins on FOX at 1 p.m. ET Sunday with the game kicking off at 6:30 p.m. ET. Coverage can be streamed for free on Tubi.

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Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

February 6, 2025
Eagles fan Jill Biden to attend Super Bowl LIX: report

Jill Biden, the former first lady and a Philadelphia Eagles fan, will reportedly head to New Orleans for the Super Bowl Sunday with her grandson.

Former President Joe Biden will not be in attendance at the game, USA Today reported Wednesday. The Bidens’ grandson, Hunter, is the son of their late son Beau.

Jill and her grandson were in attendance for the 2023 Super Bowl when the Eagles played the Kansas City Chiefs.

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Jill Biden walks the sideline before a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field Oct. 16, 2022, in Philadelphia. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

It will be a rematch of that game this weekend.

Philadelphia nearly knocked Kansas City off the first time the two teams met in the Super Bowl. But the Chiefs got the upper hand. The win kickstarted Kansas City’s run at a dynasty. The Chiefs have won three of the last four Super Bowls and have a shot at three straight, a feat no NFL team has accomplished.

Jill Biden reacted to the Eagles’ NFC championship win nearly two weeks ago.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts participates during Super Bowl 59 Opening Night Feb. 3, 2025, in New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

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“Proud Philly girl!” she wrote in a post on X.

President Donald Trump is also expected to attend the game. He would become the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl.

Trump didn’t say outright who he was pulling for but gave a small hint Tuesday.

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Super Bowl LIX will be streamed on Tubi. (Tubi)

“I don’t want to say, but there’s a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner,” he said, appearing to reference Patrick Mahomes.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 5, 2025
Trump executive order on protecting women’s sports draws response from NCAA

The NCAA responded to President Donald Trump’s executive order to keep biological men out of women’s sports Wednesday night.

Trump signed the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order in the East Room of the White House in front of female athletes on National Girls & Women in Sports Day.

NCAA President Charlie Baker responded to the executive order in a statement, saying it provided a “clear, national standard.”

Baker said the NCAA Board of Governors would review it and take steps to align the organization’s policy in the coming days.

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President Donald Trump waves after signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s and girls sports in the East Room of the White House Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes,” the statement said. “We strongly believe that clear, consistent and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today’s student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump’s order provides a clear, national standard.

“The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy.”

Trump was joined by Independent Women ambassadors Riley Gaines, Payton McNabb, Paula Scanlan, Sia Liilii, Lauren Miller, Kim Russell, Kaitlynn Wheeler, Linnea Saltz and Lily Mullens.

NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks during a press conference celebrating the 25-year anniversary of the NCAA moving its national office to Indianapolis Aug. 13, 2024, at NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. (Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar/USA Today Network)

“This doesn’t have to be long. It’s all about common sense,” Trump said before signing the order, adding that “women’s sports will be only for women. The war on women’s sports is over.”

RILEY GAINES: THE ALL-OUT WAR ON FEMALE ATHLETES ENDS NOW, THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a briefing before Trump signed the executive order that it “upholds the promise of Title IX.”

Leavitt said Trump expected the NCAA and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to comply.

“He does expect the Olympic committee and the NCAA to no longer allow men to compete in women’s sports,” she said. “I think the president, with the signing of his pen, starts a very public pressure campaign on these organizations to do the right thing for women and for girls.

“Again, this is an incredibly popular position. There have been many notable female athletes who have had the courage to speak out against some very powerful institutions in this country. They deserve to have a voice and a say. The president is bringing their voice to the highest level of the White House. He expects these organizations to comply with this federal executive order he will be signing today.”

Felicia Martin, vice president of the NCAA’s Eligibility Center, spoke at a congressional briefing in Washington Wednesday to celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day and suggested the NCAA Board of Governors is already discussing potential policy changes once Trump’s executive order goes into effect.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s and girls sporting events in the East Room of the White House Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“We know that this is an issue and a national conversation happening around participation,” she said. “The Board of Governors is right now having conversations about what potential next steps might be, but this is absolutely one of those issues that is ongoing.

“But without a national standard that can be applied across the board, all of us are making decisions based on what we think is the best for student-athletes and opportunities.”

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Martin added that she expects more clarity on a national standard later in the day from Trump. She also said the Board of Governors would make its decisions on any policy changes based on the specific details of the executive order.

Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

February 5, 2025
Trump vows Homeland Security will prevent transgender athletes from entering the country for 2028 LA Olympics

President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in girls and women’s sports Wednesday and vowed the order will also apply to border security for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

During Trump’s ceremony at the White House to sign the executive order, he announced that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will prohibit any transgender athletes attempting to compete as women from entering the country for the Olympics in 2028.

Trump said he will instruct Noem “to deny any and all visa applications made by men attempting to fraudulently enter the United States while identifying themselves as women athletes try and get into the Games.”

Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said part of the motivation behind Trump’s executive order would be to create a “pressure campaign” for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and NCAA to follow and prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

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“He does expect the Olympic committee and the NCAA to no longer allow men to compete in women’s sports,” Leavitt said. “I think the president, with the signing of his pen, starts a very public pressure campaign on these organizations to do the right thing for women and for girls.

“Again, this is an incredibly popular position. There have been many notable female athletes who have had the courage to speak out against some very powerful institutions in this country. They deserve to have a voice and a say. The president is bringing their voice to the highest level of the White House. He expects these organizations to comply with this federal executive order he will be signing today.”

HOW TRANSGENDERISM IN SPORTS SHIFTED THE 2024 ELECTION AND IGNITED A NATIONAL COUNTERCULTURE

There was controversy surrounding gender eligibility at the Paris Olympics in July and August.

Boxers Imane Khelif of Algeria and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan won gold medals in women’s boxing. Both athletes had previously been disqualified from international competitions for failing gender eligibility tests. However, the IOC and current President Thomas Bach voiced support for both athletes. The IOC also insisted that both athletes were biologically female.

Before that, Laurel Hubbard, a transgender woman, competed in weightlifting for the New Zealand team, and Canadian soccer player Quinn came out as nonbinary and transgender in 2020.

With Bach preparing to leave office later this year, the IOC’s next president could help carry out Trump’s vision on the issue more cooperatively.

Former British Olympic champion Sebastian Coe is a candidate to be the next IOC president and has suggested he will take action to prevent transgender inclusion in women’s events.

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Coe published a manifesto for his vision as IOC president as he campaigns for the position, and it stressed the importance of protecting female athletes.

Unlike Bach, Coe opposes transgender inclusion in the women’s category and said he would explore a complete ban on transgender athletes in an interview with Sky News.

“We will have a very clear policy that will be unambiguous,” Coe said. “We’ve been very clear in World Athletics that transgender athletes will not be competing in the female category at the elite level.”

Lord Sebastian Coe speaks during a memorial service for Kevan Gosper in the Olympic Room at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Sept. 17, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. Gosper was an Olympian, former AOC president and IOC vice president who died July 19, 2024, after a short illness. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for the AOC)

Coe is the current head of World Athletics, the governing body for international track and field competition. In 2023, the governing body tightened its regulations on transgender athletes to exclude transgender women who have gone through male puberty from competing in the female category. That regulation also lowered the maximum testosterone level for eligible female competitors.

Coe said if he becomes IOC president, the new Olympic policy on transgender inclusion will “probably” reflect the one he has established in World Athletics. Coe has also said the controversy surrounding Khelif and Yu-ting made him feel “uncomfortable.”

NCAA PREZ SUGGESTS ONUS ON FEMALE ATHLETES TO USE OTHER FACILITIES IF UNCOMFORTABLE SHARING WITH TRANS PLAYERS

The United Nations released study findings saying that nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of winning medals because they lost to transgender athletes.

The study, “Violence against women and girls in sports,” said more than 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports, totaling over 890 medals, according to information obtained up to March 30.

“The replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against males,” the report said.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

February 5, 2025