--- title: "Judge dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against NCAA" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-09-30T12:46:16.900Z" source_reported: "2026-09-30T11:40:11.000Z" updated: "2026-09-30T12:46:16.900Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 41 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-30T12:30:26.690077+00:00" --- # Judge dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against NCAA *A federal judge ruled the NCAA is not subject to Title IX due to lack of federal funding.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to a named judge and her ruling, with one full report and multiple digests. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates fact from comment and names specific parties and dates. - Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines and digests use loaded adjectives like 'bombshell' and 'grifter'. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - A federal judge dismissed Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against the NCAA on September 28. - The judge ruled the NCAA is not subject to Title IX because it does not receive federal funding. - Riley Gaines stated her intention to appeal the ruling, aiming to take the case to the Supreme Court. - The lawsuit challenged the NCAA's trans-inclusive policies. A federal judge dismissed Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against the NCAA. US District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson ruled on September 28 that the NCAA is not subject to Title IX because it does not receive federal funding. Gaines has stated her intention to appeal the ruling. ## Disagreement on NCAA's funding US District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson stated in her ruling that there was no evidence the NCAA received federal funds, which is a requirement for Title IX claims. Pink News reported that Gaines' legal team argued the NCAA received federal funds through a collaboration connected to concussion research via the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. However, Johnson found that an affiliation was not the same as being a direct recipient of federal money, and that Department of Defense funding went to universities and other research participants rather than the NCAA. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated digests mention the specific date of the NCAA championships in 2022 where Riley Gaines tied with Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle final. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific date of the NCAA championships in 2022 where Riley Gaines tied with Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle final. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific date of the NCAA championships in 2022 where Riley Gaines tied with Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle final. ## Who covered it Shares of the 18 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 17% (3) - Centre: 27% (5) - Right: 56% (10) 2 of 20 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-30T12:30:26.690077+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-30T13:00:28.235Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports focused on the judge's reasoning for dismissing the lawsuit, specifically that the NCAA does not receive federal funding. Pink News highlighted that the judge found no evidence of the NCAA receiving federal funds, quoting her statement: “There is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds. Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed.” The Pink News report also noted Gaines' stated goal to get the case before the Supreme Court and mentioned her prominence as a conservative media figure campaigning for restrictions on trans women and girls in sports. Erin In The Morning described the lawsuit as an effort "to further shake down the NCAA for not discriminating against transgender women hard enough." The Advocate referred to Riley Gaines as a "grifter" in its headline. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the dismissal of the lawsuit and the judge's ruling regarding federal funding. U-S-NEWS.COM and The Beltway Report noted that Gaines plans to appeal the case with the ultimate goal of reaching the Supreme Court. UPI stated that a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of former and current college athletes against the NCAA. Dailymail.com mentioned that the legal challenge centered on the 2022 NCAA Division I Women's Swimming and Diving Championships where Lia Thomas won the 500-yard freestyle. ### Right - The right-rated reports focused on the dismissal of the lawsuit and the judge's ruling that the NCAA is not subject to Title IX. Many reports, including those from The College Fix, U-S-NEWS.COM, The Beltway Report, Concerned Women for America, YourNews.com, Breitbart, WFMD.com, NYTimespost.com, Fox News, and The Daily Wire, highlighted that the judge was appointed by President Biden. Concerned Women for America's headline stated: "Unjust Ruling: NCAA Allowed to Include Men in Women’s Sports, Now Congress Must Act." The Daily Wire's headline read: "Riley Gaines Responds To NCAA’s Latest Title IX Escape Hatch." ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 4 - mixed: 10 - high: 3 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Pink News](https://thepinknews.com/2026/09/30/riley-gaines-ncaa-lawsuit-2026) — Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX Lawsuit Against NCAA - [The College Fix](https://thecollegefix.com/federal-judge-rules-ncaa-can-allow-men-on-womens-teams-riley-gaines-plans-appeal) — Federal judge rules NCAA can allow men on women’s teams, Riley Gaines plans appeal - [U-S-NEWS.COM](https://u-s-news.com/politics-riley-gaines-says-she-will-take-ncaa-transgender-athlete-case-to-supreme-court-the-beltway-report) — POLITICS: Riley Gaines Says She Will Take NCAA Transgender Athlete Case to Supreme Court – The Beltway Report - [The Beltway Report](https://thebeltwayreport.com/2026/09/riley-gaines-says-she-will-take-ncaa-transgender-athlete-case-to-supreme-court) — Riley Gaines Says She Will Take NCAA Transgender Athlete Case to Supreme Court - [INTELLINEWS](https://intelli.news/2026/09/29/ncaa-responds-after-riley-gaines-lawsuit-is-dismissed-affirms-compliance-with-trumps-executive-order) — NCAA responds after Riley Gaines’ lawsuit is dismissed, affirms compliance with Trump’s executive order - [Erin In The Morning](https://erininthemorning.com/p/riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against) — Riley Gaines' Title IX Lawsuit Against The NCAA Struck Down After Judge Finds "No Evidence" Of Funding Claims - [CONCERNED WOMEN FOR AMERICA](https://concernedwomen.org/unjust-ruling-ncaa-allowed-to-include-men-in-womens-sports-now-congress-must-act) — Unjust Ruling: NCAA Allowed to Include Men in Women’s Sports – Now Congress Must Act - [The Advocate](https://advocate.com/politics/riley-gaines-lawsuit-thrown-out) — Federal judge dismisses grifter Riley Gaines’ lawsuit against NCAA’s trans-inclusive policies - [uInterview](https://uinterview.com/uncategorized/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-lawsuit-against-ncaa-over-transgender-athlete-policy) — Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines' Lawsuit Against NCAA Over Transgender Athlete Policy - [[your]NEWS](https://yournews.com/2026/09/29/7210399/federal-judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa) — Federal Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines’ Title IX Lawsuit Against NCAA, Finding Organization Does Not Receive Federal Funds - [UPI](https://upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/09/29/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-over-ncaa-policy/9561790711370) — Judge dismisses lawsuit against NCAA over transgender athlete rule - [Breitbart](https://breitbart.com/sports/2026/09/29/biden-judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-transgender-athlete-lawsuit-against-ncaa) — Biden Judge Dismisses Riley Gaines' Transgender Athlete Lawsuit Against NCAA - [NewsFinale](https://newsfinale.com/news/riley-gaines-suffers-setback-in-fight-against-transgender-athletes-in-womens-sports) — Riley Gaines Suffers Setback in Fight Against Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports - [Total Pro Sports](https://totalprosports.com/ncaa/riley-gaines-ncaa-lawsuit-judge-decision) — Judge Delivers Bombshell Ruling In Riley Gaines' Lawsuit Against The NCAA - [Internewscast](https://internewscast.com/news/former-us-swimmer-riley-gaines-suffers-blow-in-trans-sports-fight) — Former US swimmer Riley Gaines suffers blow in trans sports fight - [wfmd.com](https://wfmd.com/2026/09/29/riley-gaines-lawsuit-vs-ncaa-dismissed-by-biden-appointed-judge-appeal-planned) — Riley Gaines’ lawsuit vs NCAA dismissed by Biden-appointed judge, appeal planned - [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/sport/othersports/article-16169789/riley-gaines-ncaa-transgender-lawsuit-dismissed.html) — Gaines suffers blow in fight against trans athletes in women's sport - [nytimespost.com](https://nytimespost.com/riley-gaines-lawsuit-vs-ncaa-dismissed-by-biden-appointed-judge-appeal-planned) — Riley Gaines' lawsuit vs NCAA dismissed by Biden-appointed judge, appeal planned - NEW YORK TIMES POST - [Fox News](https://foxnews.com/outkick-sports/riley-gaines-lawsuit-vs-ncaa-dismissed-biden-appointed-judge-appeal-planned) — Riley Gaines' lawsuit vs NCAA dismissed by Biden-appointed judge, appeal planned - [The Daily Wire](https://dailywire.com/news/riley-gaines-responds-to-ncaas-latest-title-ix-escape-hatch) — Riley Gaines Responds To NCAA’s Latest Title IX Escape Hatch ## Questions **Why was Riley Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA dismissed?** A federal judge dismissed Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against the NCAA because the judge ruled that the NCAA does not receive federal funding. This lack of federal funding means the NCAA is not subject to Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. **What is Riley Gaines' next step?** Riley Gaines has stated her intention to appeal the judge's ruling. Her stated goal is to take the case to the Supreme Court to challenge the NCAA's transgender-inclusive policies. **What was the basis of Riley Gaines' lawsuit?** Riley Gaines' lawsuit challenged the NCAA's policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in women's sports. She argued that these policies violated her rights under Title IX. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Judge dismisses Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against NCAA", https://mediabias.news/politics/judge-dismisses-riley-gaines-title-ix-lawsuit-against-ncaa