Female Swimmers Sue the NCAA, Ivy League and Harvard University
Lia Thomas’ Participation in the 2022 Women’s Ivy League Championships Violated Title IX and Discriminated Against Female Athletes
Former UPenn women’s swimmers sue Ivy League institutions and NCAA alleging push of pro-trans ideology
The women allege UPenn admins encouraged them to seek counseling at the LGBTQ center if they had a problem with Thomas
By Jackson Thompson Fox News, Published February 5, 2025 9:13am EST
EXCLUSIVE: Former University of Pennsylvania women’s swimmers Grace Estabrook, Margot Kaczorowski and Ellen Holmquist have filed a lawsuit against the university, Harvard University, the NCAA and the Ivy League Council of Presidents over their experience sharing a team with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas. The lawsuit does not name Thomas as a defendant.
According to court documents obtained by Fox News Digital, Estabrok, Kaczorowski and Holmquist argue that Thomas’ eligibility to compete as a woman for UPenn violated their Title IX rights. It argues the NCAA’s 2010, which allows biological males to compete in the women’s category based on their preferred gender identity, is “discriminatory.”
The women claim that by allowing Thomas to compete, the institutions “injured them and violated federal law.”
The lawsuit also detailed the personal experiences each of the women faced having to share a team and locker room with Thomas. Each of the plaintiffs claims the experience left them “repeatedly emotionally traumatized.”
The plaintiffs allege that the university administrators pushed pro-trans ideology onto them throughout the process of accepting Thomas on the team and in their locker room. The former swimmers say that they were led to feel their concerns over being teammates with Thomas was rooted in a “psychological problem.”
“The UPenn administrators told the women that if anyone was struggling with accepting Thomas’s participation on the UPenn Women’s team, they should seek counseling and support from CAPS and the LBGTQ center,” the lawsuit alleges.
Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Join ICONS in supporting these courageous college women as we fund their lawsuit against the Ivy League. Your contribution makes a crucial impact in advancing this cause!
- Sign our petition to stay updated on the progress of this case and urge the Ivy League and the NCAA to revise their policies.
ICONS is proud to exclusively fund this critical lawsuit. Join us in this fight for justice—your support is essential to winning this legal battle!
Contribution by check please mail to:
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EIN 88-2093870
Meet the Women
Learn more about the female plaintiffs in this case.
Grace Estabrook
University of Pennsylvania
Carmel, Indiana
Margot Kaczorowski
University of Pennsylvania
Haddon Heights, New Jersey
Ellen Holmquist
University of Pennsylvania
Wilton, Connecticut
Legal Team
William Bock, III, JD
- General Council, U.S. Anti-Doping Agency 2007-2020
- Lead Attorney in Lance Armstrong Investigation
- Litigated Cases at Court of Arbitration for Sport
Bill Bock is a litigator with experience in sports law, athlete eligibility disputes, sports drug testing and Title IX cases. Bill was the General Counsel of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) during 2007-2020. Bill has represented clients in high-profile investigations, litigation, and arbitration throughout the United States. He has represented sports organizations, Fortune 500 companies, governmental agencies, and individuals. Bill has decades of experience in international sports law matters, having conducted international sports doping investigations, been lead counsel in numerous cases before the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, advised international sports organizations and governing bodies, and served as an arbitrator in cases involving the eligibility of international athletes.