OutKick Honors Riley Gaines For Women's History Month; ESPN Take Notes

One year ago to the day, ESPN aired arguably the most egregious video tribute in the network's history. During a segment celebrating Women's History Month – which occurs every year in March – anchor Hannah Storm voiced a pre-produced package lauding Lia (formerly William) Thomas for bravery. 

Thomas was a swimmer on the Penn University men's team who started identifying as a woman, switched to the women's team, and then stole several accolades from actual female athletes. According to ESPN, a biological male dominating women's sports is worthy of celebrating. During Women's History Month. 

At OutKick, we don't believe in that. We believe in celebrating women who exhibit true bravery, the ones fighting for fairness in women's sports. Those fighting for the crazy notion that the only athletes that should compete in women's sports are … women. 

"Here at OutKick, we want to praise real women, like Riley Gaines," OutKick founder Clay Travis said. "She is fearless, she is brave, she is courageous, and, most importantly, she has the truth on her side."

We honor the host of the OutKick podcast, "Gaines for Girls," who courageously goes against the corporate media and left-wing outrage mob to stand up for what she truly believes in: fair competition. 

Riley Gaines has an important message, and she fearlessly shares it all across the country

Gaines travels around the United States speaking to student-athletes and parents about the difficulties she faced when she was forced to compete against William "Lia" Thomas. Not only was that incredibly unfair, but the NCAA forced these female swimmers to share a locker room with this man.

"We were not forewarned beforehand that we would be sharing a locker room with Lia," Gaines told Fox News. "We did not give our consent, they did not ask for our consent, but in that locker room we turned around, and there was a 6’4" biological man dropping his pants and watching us undress, and we were exposed to male genitalia."

Gaines not only speaks to crowded auditoriums or on national news stations to share her important message, but she also testified in front of Congress. Her drive extends beyond just telling people her story. She wants to enact real change. 

"Quite simply, men do not belong in women's sports," Gaines told the gathered members of the United States federal government. "That this needs to be said out loud is really kind of a sad reflection of where the other side is on this issue. There should be no debate about this."

Riley Gaines testifies during a House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services hearing on Capitol Hill.

(Getty Images)

Gaines' advocacy has helped lead to policy changes at both the state and federal level. In 2023, the House of Representatives passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Several states, including North Carolina and Texas, have passed similar legislation to stop biological men from invading women's sports. 

Riley Gaines attended the ceremonial bill-signing in Texas by governor Greg Abbott, where she said that protesters threw items and spat on those who were there to support fairness in women's sports. 

"I wish that they could have peacefully heard what Paula [Scanlan, Lia Thomas' former college teammate] and Riley had to say," Governor Abbott said. "Any reasonable person would agree. They should not have had to have gone through what they went through. Our goal is to make sure that what they went through is not going to be repeated." 

Gaines says that she's played a role in nearly all the 24 states that have passed some form of "Fairness in Women's Sports" legislation over the past two years. In the past month, she testified before the Alaskan government and played a role in the New Hampshire House of Representatives passing a bill last week. 

She noted that one of her favorite legal victories came in the state of Nebraska. On August 30, 2023, the Nebraska women's volleyball team set the world's all-time record for attendance for a women's sporting event. Over 92,000 fans packed Memorial Stadium to see the Huskers in action. 

The Nebraska Cornhuskers huddle before the game against the Omaha Mavericks at Memorial Stadium.

(Dylan Widger/USA TODAY Sports)

On the same day, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed an Executive Order establishing the Women’s Bill of Rights. Gaines says that Governor Pillen called her personally after signing the order. 

"He told me that he wanted to send a clear message that was in contrast to the messages we were receiving from the Biden Administration and the NCAA," Gaines said. "That message, he said, was that ‘Women are worthy of equal opportunities, worthy of winning championships and worthy of privacy. You matter.'" 

Additionally, Gaines and 15 other former college athletes are currently suing the NCAA for discriminating against female athletes for allowing males to compete in women's sports. 

"What I want to see the NCAA do, and what they haven't done thus far, is take accountability and take responsibility," Gaines said. 

Seeing Riley Gaines speak on a college campus opened my eyes to the importance of her mission

I had the privilege of attending one of Riley Gaines' events at Harvard last year. What I experienced was nothing short of shocking. Not only did Harvard officials attempt to keep the event from happening – despite many decrees from its administration that Harvard embraces free speech – but they did nothing to promote her engagement. 

That might not seem like a big deal, until you see that they promote everything on campus, which includes many anti-Israel demonstrations and fundraising efforts. 

But, that's what true bravery is. Gaines goes into hostile environments where she's treated terribly, often having her physical safety in danger, because she believes so strongly that her message must be delivered. 

Protesters hold signs prior to a Riley Gaines event. 

Thankfully, most people agree with Gaines, though many aren't willing to say so publicly. One Harvard student, after Gaines spoke to the crowd, said, "There are very few truth-tellers willing to come to Harvard these days." 

It's moments like that for Gaines that let her know she's doing the right thing. 

Recently, she went on The Joe Rogan Experience, the biggest podcast in the world, to continue to spread her message. Rogan speaks to many different people who want to share their ideas. 

Despite his experience, Rogan was shocked to learn about what Gaines went through. She told him about her breaking point, the moment she knew that she could no longer stand by and allow this to happen to anyone else. 

Joe Rogan was shocked to hear what Riley Gaines went through during her time swimming in the NCAA against Lia (formerly Will) Thomas.

(The Joe Rogan Experience)

Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth-place in an event at the 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. That, in and of itself, was an incredible athletic achievement. But the NCAA only had one fifth-place trophy. Of course, they gave the trophy to Thomas instead of Gaines. She questioned the official on why Thomas got the trophy, a women's award, instead of her. 

"He looked sad," Gaines recalled. "His voice changed. I could tell he didn't even believe what he was about to say. This official looked at me and said, 'Riley, I am so sorry, but we have been advised as an organization that when photos are being taken, it's crucial that the trophy is in Lia's hands … You go home empty-handed. End of story.'"

Women's History Month should be reserved for honoring the real women who exhibit unwavering courage

This is why we honor Riley Gaines; she went through an experience that was traumatizing and rather than just accept that and move on, she fights to keep other women from facing the same fate. 

Gaines' swimming career is over. It would be easy for her to just move on with her life; she's likely never going to have to face another man in a competitive environment again. 

But courage and bravery is about fighting for something bigger than yourself. Even if it means sacrificing yourself for that cause, which Gaines does on a daily basis. I don't want to lend credence to the haters by posting their words, but Gaines has told me about some of the hate she receives from them. 

They are some of the most vile, despicable, and incomprehensible messages that anyone could receive. Of course, they are all delivered in the name of "inclusivity" from the "tolerant" left.

But she remains undeterred. That's bravery, and it should be celebrated. 

Here's to you, Riley. Keep fighting the good fight.