Independent Council on Women’s Sports
Protecting safety, fairness and opportunity for girls and women.
Facing male athletes in your sport, or pushback for speaking up? You are not alone.
Our impact
Sports policy experts
ICONS is a network of thousands of Olympians, professional and college athletes, and sports policy experts. We help lawmakers and governing bodies of sport write policies that keep the female category fair and safe.
24+
state laws protecting women’s sports that our work helped pass
20+
national, international, and professional governing bodies of sport consulted, resulting in new policies
✓
proposed federal legislation to protect women’s sports
The scale of the problem
How pervasive is this?
- 1,500+ male athletes documented competing in female sports
- 6,800+ first-place finishes taken from women and girls
- 1,300+ women’s awards and honors given to male athletes
- 700+ female records held by male athletes
Source: HeCheated.org, an independent record of male participation in female sports across every sport, country and level of competition. They post new cases, data and background on X at @hecheateddotorg (opens in a new tab).
Our work
Standing with athletes in court
Elevating and empowering female athletes. ICONS funds and supports the women taking on the NCAA and its conferences, and speaks up for female athletes wherever their rights are at stake.
On appeal
Take on the NCAA
Riley Gaines and fellow athletes are holding the NCAA to Title IX. The case was dismissed in September 2026, and we are appealing.
Paused
Take on the Ivy League
Three former Penn swimmers sued over the 2021–22 season. The case against Penn and the NCAA is paused; the Ivy League and Harvard were dismissed.
Active
Take on the Mountain West
Volleyball players’ Title IX claims against San José State continue. The conference itself was dismissed in March 2026.
Ongoing
Legal Advocacy
Amicus briefs, demand letters and legal support for female athletes at every level of sport.
ICONS in action
On the ground, everywhere it matters
News & press
Latest from ICONS
Athlete voices
“This lawsuit sends a message loud and clear that women will fight for the pillars of fairness and equal opportunity. We need to preserve those principles.”
Reka Gyorgy
Olympian for Hungary and ACC champion at Virginia Tech
Plaintiff in Gaines v. NCAA
Athletes, parents, coaches and experts share what fairness in sport means to them.
From our founders
Why are we doing this?
We could not stay silent.
We love sports and we are grateful for the women who paved the way for our opportunities. The next generation of women and girls deserve the chance to be champions and to see an expanded and celebrated world of women’s sports. Recently we have seen the opportunities and protection for women and girls eroded. We need a voice to defend the respect and fair treatment of our next generation of female athletes. We will be that voice.
Marshi Smith and Kim Jones, co-founders
For athletes and parents
Need help? Tell us your story.
If you are facing male athletes in your sport, you are not alone. Share what is happening and we will help you find your next step.