SD hoops standout Myah Selland: Proposed legislation wrong way to truly ‘protect women’s sports’

These are my thoughts in response to Sen. John Thune’s speech on the Senate floor regarding “Protecting Women’s Sports.”

“Protecting women’s sports” is not a political issue in South Dakota. My athletic career started and flourished here, and I had the privilege of representing this state at the collegiate level. I’ve played in arenas across South Dakota, across the country, and even around the world.

The level of support for women’s athletics, especially women’s basketball, in South Dakota is truly unmatched. South Dakota has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to supporting girls in sports, and that’s something we can all agree on.

So on that common ground, I ask you to hear me out with an open mind. For just a moment, let’s set aside the defensiveness that often arises when we discuss anything political these days. These thoughts come from the bottom of my heart, backed by my own incredible experiences as a female athlete and the extensive research I’ve done while founding a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting girls in sports. I will always advocate for the inclusion of sports participation — it helps build friendships, teach valuable skills, and pave the way for future success.

So while I can appreciate the sentiment of “protecting women’s sports,” this type of legislation is NOT the path forward. Mr. Thune, and many of his colleagues, spew a lot of talking points blaming trans women for the issues in women’s sports. And yet, trans athletes make up less than .01% of sports participation. Instead, let’s talk about what are the real and imminent threats and what actions we can take towards truly protecting women’s sports.

1. Fewer sporting opportunities for girls: Every year, girls have 1 million fewer sporting opportunities than their male counterparts. Is this due to the participation of transgender athletes? No! This disparity is the result of systemic exclusion from sports for decades. In fact, states that have enacted harsh bans on trans athletes see fewer girls participating in sports, because this type of legislation subjects young girls to unnecessary scrutiny over their bodies. 

2. Higher rates of online abuse and harassment: During the 2024 NCAA championships, female athletes faced three times more online abuse and harassment compared to their male counterparts. Even worse, nearly 20% of all abuse was sexual in nature. If we truly want to protect women in sports, let’s focus on enacting legislation that shields women from this disproportionately harmful treatment.

3. Unequal funding and Title IX compliance: Despite the passing of Title IX, which guarantees equal opportunity, girls still face fewer athletic opportunities and receive fewer scholarships than boys. In addition, women’s teams often practice and compete in second-rate facilities with inferior equipment. 

Note: Many of these same lawmakers advocating for bans on trans athletes are also working to dismantle the Department of Education, which would further undermine the protections Title IX offers to women in sports.

4. Lack of investment and media coverage: Women’s sports remain vastly underfunded and underrepresented in the media, despite growing demand. Take the NCAA’s handling of basketball as an example: the organization refused to allow the women’s tournament to use the term “March Madness” for years and undervalued media deals for decades.

While the NCAA invests millions more in the men’s tournament, the women’s tournament generates a greater return on investment per dollar spent. Not only is this rooted in sexism and misogyny, it's really just bad business. If we want to protect women’s sports, let’s invest in them.

5. Policing body types: Research shows that the TINY number of transgender girls in sports do not have a competitive advantage. If we want to find the true advantages in sports, we need to look at wealth and access — class and money are far more likely to contribute to athletic success than gender. Additionally, the NCAA and other governing bodies already implement evidence-based guidelines, including strict hormonal requirements, to ensure fairness in the participation of transgender athletes.

The narrative that transgender girls have a competitive edge perpetuates harmful stereotypes that suggest all cisgender women are physically inferior, and it invites unnecessary scrutiny of women’s bodies and femininity. 

Note: What does that look like? Let’s take my sixth-grade self as an example. I was tall, strong, and physically superior to many of my classmates in middle school. Legislation like this means that my younger self, and girls just like me, would be subjected to invasive and traumatic examinations to “confirm” our gender. Are boys subjected to this type of body policing? Is that protecting the privacy and dignity of girls? 

Legislation targeting transgender athletes is harmful not only to trans athletes but also to women. I am passionate about protecting women’s sports — and I believe my life’s work thus far has shown that.

But when it comes to this type of legislation, we have to ask ourselves: Are we truly protecting women’s sports, or are we using these laws to further marginalize and dehumanize our transgender neighbors? Are we protecting young girls, or are we pushing them into even narrower, outdated boxes of harmful stereotypes of what a “woman” should be

South Dakota values women’s sports — this we can agree on. But our legislators have got it all wrong. Contact your congresspeople this week and urge them to vote no on this bill (H.R.28).

(Editor’s note: The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives in January. It stalled in the U.S. Senate on Monday. Feb. 3.)

Myah Selland, a Letcher native, competed in volleyball, basketball and track for the Sanborn Central/Woonsocket Blackhawks. After high school, Myah went on to have a successful career with the South Dakota State University women’s basketball team. She led her team to multiple Summit League championships, a WNIT championship, and multiple NCAA tournament appearances and wins. After college, Myah attended the Minnesota Lynx training camp and then competed professionally in Spain and Australia. Myah and her former SDSU teammate Tori Nelson have co-founded a nonprofit, Her Turn, dedicated to expanding sporting opportunities to young girls. 

Photo: the author, submitted photo