Latest Sports News Today on Fox News

Former President Trump has made protecting women's sports from transgender inclusion a key campaign issue two weeks ahead of the election. Trump and Republican leaders have pounded Democrats for enabling transgender athletes in women's sports in recent weeks, and that criticism continued Wednesday during a campaign event in Georgia. 

Former NCAA swimmer and OutKick contributor Riley Gaines emerged on stage at the Turning Point Action conference to precede Trump and gave a harrowing recollection of her experience being forced to share a locker room with a transgender competitor during her collegiate career. 

"I could share the grotesque details of what it was like being forced to undress, inches away from a 6-foot-4 man who watched us strip down to nothing, while he did the same, exposing his fully-intact naked male body," Gaines said. "There are no words to describe the violation and the betrayal, the humiliation that we felt." 

Gaines leads a lawsuit against the NCAA with other female athletes, accusing the governing body of violating their Title IX rights due to its policies on gender identity. Gaines has cited her experience at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships when transgender woman Lia Thomas was allowed to compete and share a locker room with the other athletes despite being a biological male. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Gaines reiterated that this was not something she nor her teammates ever agreed to. 

"Nobody asked for our consent. We did not give our consent to be exposed and exploited to a naked man. This used to rightfully be labeled as sexual harassment," Gaines said. 

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta, details the shock Gaines and other swimmers felt when they learned they would have to share a locker room with Thomas at the championships in Atlanta. It documents a number of races they swam with Thomas, including the 200-yard final in which Thomas and Gaines tied for fifth but Thomas, not Gaines, was handed the fifth-place trophy.

For Gaines, the experience has played into her decision to support Trump and Republican policies that restrict and aim to prevent transgender inclusion in women's sports. 

Trump and wife Melania, who has admitted to disagreeing with Republicans on issues of LGBT rights, each announced that they are opposed to letting biological males compete in girls and women's sports. Trump has gone so far as to advocate for a ban in a recent town hall event on Fox News.

"We're not going to let it happen," Trump said of the issue. "We stop it, we stop it, we absolutely stop it. We can't have it.

"You just ban it. The president bans it. You don't let it happen. It's not a big deal. "

TRANS GOLFER DISCUSSES DECISION TO STOP COMPETING AGAINST BIOLOGICAL FEMALES: 'I'M NOT A WOMAN'

Multiple states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address this issue after the Biden-Harris administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions" in April. 

The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports. 

The Supreme Court then voted 5-4 in August to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce portions of that new rule after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little even issued an executive order later that month to enforce the "Defending Women's Sports Act," which would require schools and colleges to prohibit transgender athletes in women's sports. 

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Little acknowledged concern that his order could result in public schools in his state losing federal funding if Kamla Harris becomes the 47th president. 

"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it," Little said. "From a national standpoint, there are radical little groups that want to implement changes in the rules that we have already. I’m confident in what we have, and we will aggressively (act), as the state of Idaho, both legally and legislatively, to protect women’s athletes and the great advances they’ve made because of Title IX."

Many Democrats have backed off from their support for transgender inclusion in women's sports as Election Day nears. U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, who is challenging Ted Cruz for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, has aired TV ads and statements claiming he "doesn't want boys in girl's sports" despite a history of cosponsoring legislation that would allow that to happen. 

In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to weigh in on whether transgender athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex. 

Sixty-five percent answered that it should either be never or rarely allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult transgender female athletes competing on women’s sports teams, 69% opposed it.

The United Nations released study findings that say nearly 900 biological females have fallen short of the podium because they were beaten out by transgender athletes.

The study, titled "Violence against women and girls in sports," said that more than 600 athletes did not medal in more than 400 competitions in 29 different sports, totaling over 890 medals, according to information obtained up to March 30.

"The replacement of the female sports category with a mixed-sex category has resulted in an increasing number of female athletes losing opportunities, including medals, when competing against males," the report said.

Colorado football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders came under fire by an anti-religion group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), over his use of a team chaplain. Sanders had Pastor Dewey Smith pray over the football team after its win against Baylor University on Sept. 22.

The FFRF released a scathing four-page letter condemning Sanders, making claims that having Smith do the prayer counted as "unconstitutional religious activities," as he leads a football team at a public university. 

"Coach Sanders’ team is full of young and impressionable student athletes who would not risk giving up their scholarship, giving up playing time, or losing a good recommendation from the coach by speaking out or voluntarily opting out of his unconstitutional religious activities – even if they strongly disagree with his beliefs," the letter read. 

"Coaches exert great influence and power over student athletes and those athletes will follow the lead of their coach. Using a coaching position to promote Christianity amounts to unconstitutional religious coercion."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

It isn't the first time the FFRF has targeted Sanders for his displays of honoring and practicing Christianity. 

When Sanders first became the head coach at Colorado in 2023, the FFRF raised concerns about his previous open display of faith with his team. This resulted in the university giving him additional training on the boundaries of religious expression in public institutions. The university revealed in a statement that Sanders had received training on nondiscrimination policies and establishment clause requirements after his hiring. 

But this time, an organization has stepped in to defend Sanders. The First Liberty Institute has issued a response to the FFRF's letter, arguing that Sanders has the legal right to bring prayer into his team's locker room. 

Keisha Russell, a constitutional lawyer with First Liberty Institute who has worked as a federal law clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, told Fox News Digital that there is legal precedence for why Sanders has the right to bring a chaplain into the team's locker room. 

"FFRF's letter is beyond inaccurate," Russell said. "The cases that we do have about chaplains programs and the government providing chaplains in public life, there are a lot of cases about it, and it's clearly allowed." 

While there have been no Supreme Court cases that focused specifically on a chaplain in a public school football locker room, Russell believes that if Sanders' case was elevated to that level, he would win easily, with evidence from a previous case.

In June 2022, the Supreme Court sided with Bremerton High School football coach Joe Kennedy after he was suspended and later fired because he prayed a brief, quiet prayer after football games. First Liberty Institute filed a lawsuit against the school district, arguing that banning coaches from quietly praying, just because they can be seen by the public, is wrong and violates the Constitution. On Sept. 1, 2023, Coach Kennedy returned to the field and knelt in prayer after the game.

NFL WIFE DEVON MOSTERT RECEIVES RACIST HATE ONLINE FOR DEFENDING DESANTIS AGAINST HARRIS

"If you combine that with what the Supreme Court has recently said about religion and students, and particularly the last coach Kennedy case, I think it's pretty clear that these students are old enough to kind of differentiate for themselves what they want to do in that situation, and I don't think there's anything wrong with their coach inviting one in for inspiration," Russell said. "The practice is definitely constitutional, and it's highly likely that they would uphold this practice as proper under the First Amendment." 

Sanders has said he devoted himself to Christianity shortly after his first divorce in 1998, from his ex-wife Carolyn Chambers, with whom he had his first two children, Deion Jr. and Deiondre. Sanders opened up about his devotion to Christ during an interview on "Running Wild" with Bear Grylls in November 2023.

"That's when I went through my first divorce in which the only things that I knew that truly loved me were my two kids. Now they're gone, now they've been taken away. It was devastating, and I went through suicidal thoughts, a suicidal period," Sander said. "I ran this car off the side of the highway, and at the bottom, I thought this car would just flip, and it didn't flip, and I was still there. Shortly after that, I just had to come to the Lord with my hands up and say, 'I'm done. I can't do it anymore. You got me. I give up. God, you take me.'"

During an introductory press conference last year commemorating his position as new head at UC, Sanders praised God.

"Out of all the persons in the world, God chose me," Sanders said. "For that, I thank Him; for that, I love Him; for that, I magnify Him; for that, I glorify Him; for that, I praise Him; for that, I owe Him. Each and every day, I'm trying to please Him," 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A Catholic school's girl's soccer team in New Hampshire is the latest group to take a stand against transgender inclusion in women's sports, as former president Trump has made the issue a priority of his candidacy. 

Bishop Brady High School in Concord, New Hampshire, saw its girl's soccer Giants boycott a game against Kearsage Regional High School in North Sutton on Friday. Kearsage Regional is a public school with a girls' soccer team that has a transgender player.  Kearsage is only one of two schools in New Hampshire with a player who is a biological male, despite a state law to prevent it. 

So Bishop Brady's players refused to show up to the game, according to multiple reports. 

Kearsage's player, Maelle Jacques, is nearly 6-foot-0 in height, according to multiple reports. Jacques was allowed to play for Kearsage Regional despite a state law in New Hampshire that restricts transgender inclusion in girls' sports. However, a federal judge's ruling in September put Maelle right back onto the field and into the locker room with the other girls' athletes.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed House Bill 1205, also known as the "Fairness in Women’s Sports Act," into law in July, which prohibits trans girls and women from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams. But then Maelle's family, along with the family of another transgender athlete, sued to block it. 

A federal court granted a preliminary injunction on Sept. 10, which meant that the two athletes would be allowed to play until a final ruling is made. A final ruling has not been made, so they have continued to play despite the state law. 

The judge who made the ruling, Landya McCafferty, is a liberal who was appointed to her seat by former president Obama in 2013. 

The other athlete involved in the case, Parker Tirrell, was allowed to play for Plymoth Regional High School. A group of New Hampshire families filed a lawsuit against Bow SD officials after allegedly being forced to remove armbands to protest Tirrell's participation on the team.  

Meanwhile, the Kearsarge Regional school board even voted 6-1 to allow Jacques and other trans girls to play on sports teams on August 29, according to The Boston Globe. 

The federal ruling that has allowed Maelle and Tirrell to play is one of many legislative chess moves between Republicans and Democrats in opposing efforts addressing transgender inclusion in women's sports that have taken place during the Biden-Harris administration. 

Former president Trump and even his wife, Melania, who has admitted to disagreeing with Republicans on issues of LGBT rights, each announced that they are opposed to letting biological males compete in girls' and women's sports. Trump has gone so far to advocate for a full-on ban, in a town hall event on Fox News this past week. 

INSIDE SAN JOSE STATE'S POLICE BATTLE TO PROTECT WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS FROM TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST THREATS

Meanwhile, Democrats like McCafferty, anchored by the Biden-Harris administration, have gone to great lengths to help enable transgender inclusion in women's sports. 

Multiple states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address this issue after the Biden-Harris administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions," in April. 

The administration insisted the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that it would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports. 

The Supreme Court then voted 5-4 in August to reject an emergency request by the Biden administration to enforce portions of that new rule after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states.

Idaho governor Brad Little even issued an executive order later that month to enforce the "Defending Women's Sports Act," which would require schools and colleges to prevent transgender athletes in women's sports. 

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Little did not rule out the fear of the order resulting in his public schools losing federal funding if Kamla Harris becomes the 47th president. 

"We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it," Little said. "From a national standpoint, there are radical little groups that want to implement changes in the rules that we have already. I’m confident in what we have, and we will aggressively (act), as the state of Idaho, both legally and legislatively, to protect women’s athletes and the great advances they’ve made because of Title IX."

In Nevada, a state law that was passed in 2022 to protect gender identity has caused a rift between the school's women's volleyball players and the administration. With a game coming up against San Jose State, which has a transgender player on its roster and has resulted in a lawsuit by one of its other players, Nevada's players have said they want to forfeit. 

Nevada provided a statement to Fox News Digital, saying it cannot officially forfeit because of the law that Nevada passed in 2022. 

A total of 23 states in the U.S. have laws to prevent transgender inclusion in women's sports. But the rest have been at the mercy of the federal government, and it is now obvious that even states with those laws might not be safe either. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter

Brooke Slusser was enjoying a normal night on campus when she got the first-ever threat against her life.

It was Oct. 2, she was just hours away from traveling to play a college volleyball game for her San Jose State Spartans at Colorado State. But then, before she drifted to sleep that night, a teammate ran to her with an urgent warning. 

"One of my teammates got a DM, basically saying that she, and then my team, needed to keep my distance from me on gameday against Colorado State, because it wasn’t going to be a good situation for me to be in and that my team needed to keep their distance," Slusser told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview. "They needed to keep their distance from me during the game, because something was going to happen to me.

"This was the first physical threat when we could easily see that they wanted to physically harm one of us."

It was the first time she had ever experienced anything like that, she said. Brooke was just a college junior from Denton, Texas – a town with historically conservative political leanings and an exceptionally low violent crime rate. 

But she wasn’t in Texas anymore. She was in California. 

Unlike Texas, California is a state where there are no laws to prevent transgender inclusion in college sports. After being told that one of her teammates was a transgender female, and she had not even been notified of it despite sharing a locker room and even rooms on overnight trips with that person, she joined a lawsuit against the NCAA. 

Blaire Fleming, a San Jose State player who has continued to play this season amid the lawsuit, joined the program the same year as Slusser did in 2022. They played two full seasons together without Slusser being told that Fleming was a biological male.

Slusser's lawsuit alleges that San Jose State had not warned any of its recruits that it had a transgender athlete on the team, even though "this was now a well-known fact to the athletic department and virtually everyone else at SJSU," when she joined the lawsuit, headed by former college swimmer and OutKick host Riley Gaines, in May. 

And suddenly, in a heated election year, Slusser, Fleming and their teammates were thrust into the spotlight of national-scale partisan debate between gender identity rights and the sanctity of women’s sports.

Because of this, Slusser now has to be even more concerned for her physical safety. 

"If they are willing to make a threat in that way, they’re definitely some sort of pro-transgender beliefs, but I wouldn’t be able to 100 percent say if they’re a transgender activist or not," Slusser said when asked about the potential motivations behind the threat.

Slusser swiftly reported the incident. The team already had a regular security guard that traveled with the players for home and away games, but that wasn’t going to be enough anymore. 

"No matter what people’s opinions are, whether they want to support not allowing trans in the NCAA, or if they do support that, whatever they think, there obviously are two sides to having me on the team and having Blaire on the team, so it’s just this fear that you never even know what people are going to do these days," Slusser said. 

So, the team turned to armed security.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Even before that threat, the program was already in the process of bolstering its protection as it garnered more and more national attention. 

When Southern Utah became the first program to announce that it would be forfeiting its match against the Spartans in early September, that was the first indicator for heightened security. That’s when the college pulled the trigger on bringing in reinforcements.

A San Jose State University spokesperson, in liaison with the police department, confirmed to Fox News Digital that the volleyball team was told it would be getting added security of some kind after its first cancelation by an opposing program, as news of Slusser’s lawsuit spread. It would only be the first of four official forfeits and one more that is disputed.

Shortly after that first cancelation, the university’s in-house police department, UPD, was alerted of the situation and got involved. 

San Jose State confirmed to Fox News Digital that there was some campus police presence in the Spartan Gym at Yosh Uchida Hall for the team’s next two home matches against San Francisco on Sept. 19 and St. Mary's on Sept. 21.

The university's police department annually documents about 60,000 incidents, arrests between 800 and 900 suspects and writes about 2,500 reports. The Police Communications Center dispatches personnel to more than 50,000 calls for service each year, according to the station's website.

San Jose State Senior Director of Media Relations Michelle Smith McDonald previously told Fox News Digital that diverting the department’s resources to the volleyball team was needed due to the "attention" the team was getting. 

"The team has been a subject of significant attention, not all of it positive, and we are ensuring their security," Smith McDonald said. 

The department had to call for more backup when the team hit the road. 

After the Spartans' homestand, a university police officer traveled with the team to its September 24 match at Fresno State. But San Jose State confirmed that it had to coordinate with Fresno State to have additional security on site for that match to back up the one traveling officer.

San Jose State then had a gap in its schedule after Boise State forfeited its game against it on Sept. 28. The University of Wyoming and Utah State also forfeited their matches against the Spartans around the same time, bringing the grand total of forfeits up to four, with each one bringing more divisive attention to the team. 

Then things were noticeably different when Slusser and her teammates arrived at Colorado State on October 3, after the threat against her life. The Spartans walked onto a court under a much heavier and more noticeable patrol by police officers.

"The added protection at Colorado State was because of that DM," Slusser said, referring to the first threat against her life. 

"Especially with how much people have reached out on social media making threats and saying they want to meet up with me or Blaire and any of our teammates to confront us on this whole situation. So, I think the security is mostly just to be on the safer side of things to make sure that doesn’t happen, especially while we’re on away trips, and people think that might be their chance to do whatever they want to do in that moment."

But Slusser added that she was "not aware" of any similar threats that have been made against Fleming. The university has not confirmed or denied any alleged threats made against Fleming. Fox News Digital has reached out to Fleming through the university for comment, but has not received a response. 

Meanwhile, the agitator who made the threat against Slusser ahead of the Colorado State game has not yet been identified. 

Fox News Digital provided a series of questions to San Jose State about the measures it is taking to track down the suspects of these threats, including whether digital forensics by the university police department is being used, or whether the situation has been elevated to state or federal investigators. 

"The university has asked students and staff to share all concerning communications with UPD to be evaluated and addressed appropriately, including in conjunction with proper authorities where appropriate," said part of a statement that San Jose State provided exclusively to Fox News Digital in response to the list of questions. 

GOP GOVERNOR REVEALS WHY HE ORDERED SCHOOLS TO BAR TRANSGENDERS FROM GIRLS SPORTS

San Jose State would not confirm any specific details of the police department’s security protocols. 

However, the university did confirm that the volleyball team will continue to get police protection for future home and away matches. 

"The safety and security of our students is our top priority. The university is providing security through the UPD both at home and on the road," the university’s statement read. 

For Slusser, that armed protection puts her at peace of mind as she maneuvers the dangers that have come with her recent decision to take a stand against transgender inclusion in women’s sports. 

"At Colorado State for our game, I was definitely looking around a lot more to make sure there was security, just because I didn’t feel safe. So, I think honestly it makes me feel better about being able to travel and show up to places, knowing there is extra security," Slusser said. "I do hope that there is kind of the same presence at our other away games this season."

Slusser added that the police protection is only notable on game days and road trips, and that they aren’t getting any protection in their "day-to-day" routines. 

Still, if the UPD continues its protection of the team, as is expected, it will embark on a security escort that could be under a heated national spotlight later this month. 

San Jose State has a daunting road trip coming up against the University of Nevada, Reno, on October 26. It is a match that is currently scheduled to be played, but Nevada players have expressed their intent not to play that match. 

Nevada provided a statement to Fox News Digital confirming that the team’s players have approached the athletics director requesting that the game be canceled. The Nevada players themselves have spoken out about their intent to forgo participation, but the university also said that players who choose not to participate won’t face consequences for skipping it, in its statement. 

However, Nevada’s statement also claimed that the program could not officially forfeit the match without violating state law. The state’s constitution was revised in 2022 when Nevada voted to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment, which added gender identity to the list of protections. 

That means Slusser, Fleming and the rest of their team could all end up having to get on a plane to Reno, in a Sun Belt battleground state just weeks before a hotly contested election where transgender inclusion in women’s sports is suddenly a red-hot issue. And there might be no opposing players to greet them on the court when they get there. 

The University of Nevada’s reported incidents of aggravated assault went from four cases on campus in 2021 to three in 2022 to five last year, according to the school’s released annual crime statistics.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Controversy overshadowed the U.K. Mini Series pool championships this past weekend, as transgender competitors Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith were allowed to play. Both Haynes and Smith are biological males. 

Haynes and Smith ended up facing off against eachother in the semifinals after each of them defeated a string of biologically female opponents. Haynes won that match, advancing to the final. There, Welsh woman Kirsty-Lee Davies was the last thing standing in between Haynes and claiming the title in the women's event. 

Haynes took an early five-frames-to-two lead over Davies to reach the brink of that title. But just then, Davies pulled off a win to stave off elimination, sparking a streak of four straight frame wins to complete the comeback and claim the championship. 

The Women’s Rights Network applauded Davies for her victory, writing: "Despite the best efforts of the pool authorities to scupper her chances by allowing two males to compete in the female category." However, the WRN also pointed out that both Haynes and Smith, for making it all the way to the final and semi-final respectively, will pick up prize money that "rightfully belongs to a woman."

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The rules of both the English Pool Association and World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) state that trans-identified athletes are allowed to compete in the sport with absolutely no restrictions, according to their website. Those bylaws for the EPA have been under review since December 2023.

In August 2023, the WEPF announced it was updating their guidelines to only allow those who were "born female" to play the sport.

"We understand that this decision may prompt questions and discussions within our sport. We want to emphasize that our commitment to upholding the values of sportsmanship, inclusivity, and adherence to regulatory standards remains unwavering," the WEPF said at the time. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure the continued growth and development of the sport we all love, while maintaining a harmonious balance between inclusivity and the integrity of competition. We recognize the importance of fostering an environment where everyone can participate and thrive, and we remain dedicated to upholding these principles to the best of our ability."

GOP GOVERNOR REVEALS WHY HE ORDERED SCHOOLS TO BAR TRANSGENDERS FROM GIRLS SPORTS

But then, in October that year, the WEPF reversed that protection. It allowed transgenders to compete by enabling their participation under the conditioner that they have identified as female for a minimum of four years, and further submit proof of lowered testosterone levels.

Transgender participation in women's sports has become an internationally debated issue, and it has become one of the most-discussed issues of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. 

In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to weigh in on whether trans athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex, and 65% answered that it should either be never or rarely be allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult trans female athletes competing on women’s sports teams, 69% opposed it.

Former president Trump has taken a firm stance against transgender inclusion in his campaign for the White House. Trump's wife, former first lady Melania Trump, also recently spoke out against allowing biological men in women's sports in her new memoir "Melania," despite admittedly disagreeing with most Republican principles on LGBT rights. 

Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration has taken sweeping actions to enable transgender inclusion. 

In April, the administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions." 

The rule took effect Aug. 1, and for the first time, the law stated that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity. The Biden administration insisted that the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that Biden's claims that it would not result in biological men participating in women's sports were not true and that the proposal would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports.

The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject a Biden emergency request to enforce portions of that new rule that includes protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX, after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Texas congressional representative Colin Allred released a campaign ad on Friday in which he stated he "doesn't want boys playing girls' sports." However, Allred has a vast legislative history of supporting bills that would enable transgender biological males in both girls' and women's sports at the youth and collegiate levels. 

The Democratic House of Representatives member, who is now running for U.S. Senate, released the ad in response to recent attacks from his opponent, Ted Cruz, who has tried to link Allred to support for transgender inclusion in women's and girls' sports. 

"I'm a dad, I'm also a Christian, and my faith has taught me that all kids are God's kids. So let me be clear, I don't want boys playing girls' sports, or any of this ridiculous stuff Ted Cruz is saying," Allred said in the ad. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

A new ad paid for by Cruz’s campaign aired during NFL games in Texas last weekend and claimed that Allred wanted an "extreme liberal vision for America" for wanting to allow "boys in girls’ sports." Cruz is reportedly set to run another ad, the third addressing the subject, this upcoming NFL Sunday. 

Allred is a former NFL linebacker who played for the Tennessee Titans from 2006 to 2010 after a college career at Baylor. He announced his Senate campaign to challenge Cruz in May 2023 and then won his party's nomination back in early March of this year. 

Texas is one of 23 states in the U.S. with state laws in place to prevent transgender inclusion in women's sports. Allred has been an opponent of those efforts dating back to the very first year of his congressional career. As recently as June 2023, he cosponsored a law that "would force public schools to allow biologically male athletes who identify as transgender on girls’ sports teams."

Allred was previously elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 32nd district in the 2018 midterms. Just months after assuming office the following January, he cosponsored and voted for the Equality Act, "which would require schools to include male athletes who identify as transgender girls on female sports teams," in May 2019. 

It was only the first instance of him contributing to efforts to promote transgender inclusion in women's sports. 

In February 2021, Allred cosponsored and voted for a revised version of the Equality Act. This version went a step further to ensure that "individuals who identify as another gender cannot be denied access to the locker room of their choice."

Two months later, in April 2021, days after the Texas Senate passed a bill "that would force young athletes to compete in sports that align with the sex designated on their birth certificate as it was stated at or around birth," Allred praised business leaders for opposing the legislation in a post on X. 

SAN JOSE STATE VOLLEYBALL TEAM WITH TRANSGENDER PLAYER SAYS NO MORE FUTURE MATCHES HAVE BEEN FORFEITED

"I thank the business leaders and [Texas Competes] for coming out in opposition to these harmful, anti-trans bills moving through the Texas legislature. An inclusive Texas that welcomes everyone, is good for business," Allred wrote. 

Then in October of that year, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill into law restricting transgender student athletes from playing on school sports teams that align with their gender identity. Allred wrote in a post on X (then known as Twitter), "Texas should be a place where our young people can be who they are, free from discrimination. This is yet another dark, shameful moment for our state as the GOP in Texas is more focused on attacking trans students than fixing the real problems we face."

Allred went so far as to advocate for a transgender bill of rights. In March 2023, he cosponsored a resolution "Recognizing that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights." The resolution specifically called for federal law to ensure that biological men can "participate in sports on teams and in programs that best align with their gender identity; [and] use school facilities that best align with their gender identity."

Allred has also supported efforts that would impede parents' right to intervene and prevent transgender athletes from competing against their daughters. 

Allred voted against the Parents Bill of Rights Act. A provision in the bill "requires school districts to alert parents if their child is sharing a bathroom, locker room or sports team with a student of the opposite biological sex," in March 2023. 

In response to a request for comment from Fox News Digital on clarification of Allred's stance and history on the issue of transgender athletes in women's sports, his campaign provided a statement directed at Cruz. 

"Ted Cruz has been in office forever, but he has nothing to run on but lies and division. Unlike Ted Cruz, Congressman Allred has a real record to run on. A record of creating jobs, lowering costs and protecting Social Security and Medicare. Ted Cruz is resorting to these desperate attacks because he’ll say anything to get re-elected," Allred's campaign manager Paige Hutchinson wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. 

Transgender inclusion in women's sports has become one of the hot button issues of the 2024 election cycle. 

In June, a survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago asked respondents to weigh in on whether trans athletes of both sexes should be permitted to participate in sports leagues that correspond to their preferred gender identity instead of their biological sex, and 65% answered that it should either be never or rarely be allowed. When those polled were asked specifically about adult trans female athletes competing on women’s sports teams, 69% opposed it.

Former president Trump has taken a firm stance against transgender inclusion in his campaign for the White House. Trump's wife, former first lady Melania Trump, also recently spoke out against allowing biological men in women's sports in her new memoir "Melania," despite admittedly disagreeing with most Republican principles on LGBT rights. 

Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration has taken sweeping actions to enable transgender inclusion. 

In April, the administration issued a sweeping rule that clarified that Title IX’s ban on "sex" discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation and "pregnancy or related conditions." 

The rule took effect Aug. 1, and for the first time, the law stated that discrimination based on sex includes conduct related to a person’s gender identity. The Biden administration insisted that the regulation does not address athletic eligibility. However, multiple experts presented evidence to Fox News Digital in June that Biden's claims that it would not result in biological men participating in women's sports were not true and that the proposal would ultimately put more biological men in women's sports.

The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to reject a Biden emergency request to enforce portions of that new rule that includes protection from discrimination for transgender students under Title IX, after more than two dozen Republican attorneys general sued to block the Title IX changes in their own states.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

NFL Network host Sara Walsh revealed that she and her family experienced the destructive floods and winds of Hurricane Helene at their home in Clearwater, Florida, last week. 

Walsh shared footage in an X post on Sept. 28, showing the extent of how flooded the streets were by her home. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

During an episode of "Good Morning Football" on NFL Network on Wednesday, Walsh went further into detail about the experience that she and her family went through amid the Category 4 storm, which already has a death toll of over 190. 

The segment revealed additional footage of Walsh's husband helping to rescue their children, pets and neighbors on a floating raft.

"That was my husband rescuing the neighbors. They sent the dogs over first. And that is my daughter being taken out of my house at 2 a.m. because the house behind us caught on fire and was burning to the ground in hurricane winds. So, an unbelievably devastating, scary situation. I know how incredibly lucky I am to be sitting here right now," Walsh said. 

"The one thing you learn in disasters is how much people care. You see a side in humanity that you sort of forgot was there. I can’t say enough how overwhelmed myself and pretty much everyone I know has been by just the outpouring of support."

Helene is already considered one of the worst hurricanes to hit Florida in modern history. The storm moved north into the mainland United States, causing historic flooding in parts of Georgia and North Carolina. Walsh claims her town has been destroyed to the point where it's as if it "doesn't exist." 

"Every single person I know on Clearwater Beach lost their home," Walsh said. "It is completely and utterly decimated, almost to the point it doesn't exist."

HURRICANE HELENE WREAKS HAVOC ACROSS ASHEVILLE, NC; NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED, 119 RESCUED

Anotther Florida native, golf legend John Daley, said Wednesday that he also lost his Clearwater, Florida, home in the "devastating" storm.

"I’m just glad everyone is healthy, that’s the main thing," he told the PGA Tour’s website. "You live in Florida, you have to understand that’s going to happen, but not like this. I didn’t think it would be this bad."

Flooding has been one of the biggest destructive forces of the hurricane, beginning along Florida’s coast well before Hurricane Helene made landfall, with rapidly rising waters reported as far south as Fort Myers on the state’s Gulf Coast. FOX Weather's Ian Oliver said the surge quickly flooded streets around St. Pete Beach on Thursday evening, with high tide several hours away.

The storm slammed Florida’s Big Bend region, after intensifying into a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph. Helene unleashed a potentially "unsurvivable" 20-foot storm surge, catastrophic hurricane-force winds and flooding.

The storm is expected to cause $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage.

The Biden-Harris administration's disaster relief agency is facing backlash after its unearthed emergency management blueprint went viral. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website lists a set of three goals as part of its strategic plan to "address key challenges" in emergency management. The number one goal listed in the agency's priorities is to "instill equity as a foundation of emergency management."  According to FEMA's plan, "Diversity, equity, and inclusion cannot be optional." 

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has also warned that FEMA "does not have the funds" to get through hurricane season.

"We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting. We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season," Mayorkas said Wednesday. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban used his X platform Friday to respond to 24-year-old former college swimmer and conservative activist Riley Gaines over criticisms of Vice President Kamala Harris' handling of the southern border. 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) released data to lawmakers Friday revealing that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with sex offenses and homicide convictions have crossed the border into the U.S. under the Biden-Harris administration. These include 13,099 convicted of homicide and 15,811 of sexual assault. 

Cuban, who has been a staunch advocate for Harris, Joe Biden in 2020 and Hillary Clinton in 2016, has defended the VP's record on the border. Cuban even said he thinks the actions she has taken to reduce the flow of illegal migrants across the southern border "have actually worked" in a recent CNBC interview.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Gaines called out Cuban for his praise of the vice president in a post on X Friday. 

"We might have different standards for what qualifies as a 'good job,' but I don’t think the illegal entrance of 15,000+ rapists, 13,000+ murderers, and 320,000 missing children fits the bill," Gaines, the host of OutKick's "Gaines for Girls" podcast wrote. 

Gaines' reference to the 320,000 missing children is from another report from the Department of Homeland Security released Aug. 21 that revealed the Biden-Harris administration has lost track of that number of migrant children who crossed the border without parents. 

Cuban responded to Gaines in his own X post just 90 minutes later. Cuban admitted the current administration "waited too long to fix the border." But he then criticized Trump for his promise to carry out the largest mass deportation in American history if elected. 

"I have said many times they waited too long to fix the border. The good news is that the latest crossing numbers are lower than Jan 21 and staying near 1,500 a day," Cuban wrote, along with screenshots of two articles covering a statistical reduction in illegal border crossings. 

"And the VP has been clear she will sign the bi-partisan border bill. It’s a fair argument to criticize them for waiting too long. But you also have to acknowledge that they are now having success. Which leads to the question of deportations. The Republican nominee says he is going to deport the 21 million people here illegally. He hasn’t said how he will do it." 

TRUMP'S MEAL FOR ALABAMA-GEORGIA FOOTBALL GAME INCLUDES NEARLY 800 CALORIES FROM MCDONALD'S ALONE

Cuban referenced a border bill that Senate Democrats failed to pass through Congress in May when all but one Republican senator, along with six Democrats, voted to block it. 

Democrats argued the bill was intended to reduce border crossings, raise the standard for migrants to qualify for asylum and empower officials to rapidly send away those who fail to meet that standard. It would give the president power to shut down the border if migration levels exceed certain thresholds. But concerns about the bill were raised with earlier drafts having the border provisions attached to funding for Ukraine and Israel. 

Gaines responded to Cuban's defense of his praise for Harris in another X post Friday evening, discrediting the statistics Cuban offered and slamming the border bill.

"They’re flying in illegal immigrants and dropping them into the heartland of America, often in places we don’t even know about," Gaines wrote. "The bi-partisan border bill is a Trojan horse. The first time it was voted on it included funding for Ukraine. She campaigns on securing the border acknowledging (indirectly) the problems that have been created under the Biden Harris Admin. she's been in the White House for 3.5 years. Why not take action now?" 

Gaines also called out Cuban for not addressing the 320,000 missing children statistic she mentioned in her first post. 

Cuban had not responded to Gaines again at the time of publication. 

Cuban's defense of Harris and Democrats has ramped up in recent weeks. He has done several interviews endorsing the VP in the upcoming election, making statements that have raised eyebrows from conservative voters. Cuban has suggested Trump is "a socialist" and even said he believes the mainstream media "leans right" in a recent CNBC interview.  

Earlier this year, when Biden was still the presumptive Democratic nominee, Cuban went so far as to say he would vote for Biden over Trump even if Biden was "being given his last rites."

"If they were having his last wake, and it was him versus Trump, and he was being given last rites, I would still vote for Joe Biden," Cuban told Bloomberg News in March.

However, Cuban has also said he supported Trump at the outset of his first candidacy in 2015. 

"In 2015, I was like, ‘He's great. He's not a typical Stepford candidate. I thought that was a positive," Cuban told Vivek Ramaswamy in an interview on X Aug. 7.

Gaines has been an advocate for Trump in this election cycle. Gaines even spoke at one of Trump's rallies in Glendale, Arizona, Aug. 23. There, Gaines made a speech in which she claimed she was voting for Trump "because I'm a woman." 

"They don't believe in school choice; they don't believe in parental rights or the safeguarding of children; they don't believe in freedom unless it's the freedom to have an abortion or chemically and surgically castrate children," she said. 

"You have one ticket that knows what a woman is and has vowed to take decisive action at protecting our sex-based rights, compared to the other ticket that thinks men can become pregnant, and that tampons belong in boys' bathrooms."

Harris will make a rare visit to the southern border in Arizona as she seeks to blunt criticism from former President Trump on the matter and renews her call for the bipartisan border bill. Conservatives were not swayed by the visit.

"Border Czar Kamala Harris has had nearly four years to protect America and failed," RJ Hauman, president of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE), told Fox News Digital in response to the data. "She is allowing tens of thousands of murderers and rapists to roam free. She puts criminals first and the safety and security of you and your family last."

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Despite two failed doping tests this summer, Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is on his way to the semifinals at the U.S. Open. 

Sinner will play England's Jack Draper Friday night for a chance to play in the men's singles final. The 23-year-old star is looking for his second Grand Slam title amid ongoing backlash against his eligibility for this year's tournament by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). 

Sinner tested positive twice for a banned anabolic steroid in March. The anabolic steroid he tested for is called clostebol and is a derivative of natural testosterone. 

The source of the clostebol was a spray used for treating open wounds that is available without a prescription. However, the packaging of that spray has a large warning that says "DOPING." 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The spray, Trofodermin, also contains an underlined warning in Italian on the medication guide that comes inside the box that says, "For those taking part in sports: use of the drug without therapeutic needs constitutes doping and can result in positive anti-doping tests."

Clostebol is listed in the anabolic androgenic steroids section on page 5 of WADA’s 24-page list of banned substances. Italian law dictates that all medications that include substances on the World Anti-Doping Association’s (WADA) banned list come with the printed "DOPING" warning.

San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended by MLB for 80 games after testing positive for the same drug in 2022.

Sinner was not suspended because it was determined the clostebol entered his body during a massage from his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, ITIA announced Aug. 20 after an independent investigation. Sinner said his fitness trainer, Umberto Ferrara, bought Trofodermin in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi’s finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves.

Clostebol is listed as a controlled substance in America, so it can only be sold with a doctor’s prescription because the U.S. government considers it to have a potential for abuse. 

Pending a potential appeal from the WADA, Sinner will get away with his physiotherapist's mistake. It's a decision that has already drawn criticism from some of the sport's top players.

Men's tennis superstars Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have addressed the topic and criticized what they described as a lack of transparency. 

US OPEN WINNER ANDRE AGASSI BELIEVES AMERICAN TENNIS IS POISED FOR GRAND SLAM ‘BREAKTHROUGH’ IN MEN’S SINGLES

"We see a lack of standardized and clear protocols. I can understand the sentiments of a lot of players that are questioning whether they are treated the same," Djokovic told reporters ahead of the U.S. Open.

Alcaraz told reporters, "I think there's something behind this that a lot of people doesn't know. I don't even know. In the end, it's something very difficult to talk about." 

Meanwhile, Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, who won the Australian Open in 2022 but also lost to Sinner in the Miami Open that same year, took a stronger stance against his former opponent's eligibility. Kyrgios said Sinner only surrendering prize money and points is "ridiculous," and the Italian shouldn't see the court for a long time.

"Whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced. Massage cream…. Yeah nice," Kyrgios wrote in a post on X Aug. 21. 

However, some have come to Sinner's defense. 

Eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi defended Sinner in a recent interview with Fox News Digital.

"If you're going to performance enhancement cheat, you're not going to put a billionth of a gram of something in your body on purpose. You're going to get a benefit from the performance enhancer if that's your objective," Agassi said.

"It's not like when you missed three tests, or you don't take three tests — like we've seen with a couple players — that's an immediate action, right? So, the quietness of it is always there in any due process, unless a player willingly chooses to talk about it. And his ability to play while it's being appealed, it's not necessarily a rule, it's a law."

Sinner became the betting favorite for this year's title when Djokovic and Alcarez were eliminated early in the men's singles tournament. After defeating 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals Wednesday night, Sinner is the only man left in the field who has won a Grand Slam title.

Draper and American Taylor Fritz are participating in the semifinals at a major for the first time. Fellow American Frances Tiafoe made it to the semis two years ago before losing to eventual champion Alcaraz.

Sinner has been to the semifinals at each of the four Grand Slams and is particularly strong on hard courts, where he is 33-2 with four titles in 2024.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce is preparing for a football season without football. At 36 years old, this fall will mark his first since childhood that Kelce is not a football player. 

Instead, he'll continue his podcasting career, take on an on-air role at ESPN's "Monday Night Football" and spend a considerable amount of time at Buffalo Wild Wings on game days. In a recent partnership with the fast-food chain, Kelce has curated his own personal menu, "Kelce's Picks." 

Kelce highlighted two particular menu items he calls his favorites for game days this year — the triple bacon cheeseburger and 10 traditional wings with Buffalo Bacon sauce. 

That combination is not a meal plan for someone hoping to play in the NFL at age 36, according to former Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers dietitian Leslie Bonci. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I would never advise this type of meal before games. Not enough carbs, too much fat, so could cause digestive distress. Even post-game, not the best for recovery," Bonci told Fox News Digital. 

"One meal like this weekly is not going to have any significant impact on someone who is active, although the volume might not feel comfortable. This is a heavy/calorically dense meal that is also very high in sodium. So, this could result in increased thirst."

According to Buffalo Wild Wings' nutrition guide, the two items combine for 2,370 calories, 211 grams of fat, 3.5 grams of trans fat, 590 milligrams of cholesterol, 4,670 milligrams of sodium, 44 grams of carbs, 9 grams of sugar and 172 grams of protein.

Bonci, who has been a part of four Super Bowl-winning teams with the Chiefs and Steelers, believes this collection of food could hamper an older offensive lineman's ability to play.

"Granted, my O-line players tend to not be tiny, but they still need to move speedily during the game, and that means muscles need to be fueled not fooled," Bonci said. 

However, Bonci didn't rule out that Kelce could make a return to the NFL if he took the right dietary steps. 

"He is a trained athlete and, should he decide to play again, he knows what to do to get himself ready to play. It is patterns, not individual meals, that are the deal maker/breaker," she said. 

Kelce said he would only consider a return to the NFL if there was treatment for his arthritis. 

"My days of playing are just done, and I do not foresee any scenario taking place other than maybe medicine inventing a way to get rid of arthritis that I would ever entertain coming back at all anymore," he recently told The Associated Press.

TRAVIS HUNTER EXPLAINS WHY PLAYERS 'CAN'T TAKE' PLAYING FOR DEION SANDERS, COLORADO

Kelce suggested in a March episode of his podcast that he regretted retiring after the end of last season after the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley in free agency. 

"I could not be more bullish. … This is what I'm regretting," Kelce said. "I knew when I retired I was going to miss just an outstanding season for the Philadelphia Eagles. And it sucks. It really does. I want to be a part of it so bad."

However, Kelce has insisted he will stay retired. 

Despite the decadence of "Kelce's Picks," the former Pro Bowler has said his weight has gone down since he retired, following the pattern of many former offensive linemen after they retire. 

During a June 26 interview with GQ, the former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman said he was "almost 20 pounds down" and was aiming to lose another 20. Kelce said he weighed 295 pounds during his career. 

"It's hard to imagine another nearly 20 pounds coming off, being honest with you," Kelce said. "But my back already feels better. My knees already feel better."

Should Kelce keep the weight off, it could create even more of a barrier to an already unlikely NFL return. The offensive line position is so dependent on players keeping a consistent competitively heavy weight, but with the added maintenance of muscle density, agility and speed at those larger frames. That's why so many of the former players cut down on their high-calorie diets and slim down after retiring.

Other former offensive linemen who have quickly lost weight after retirement include Russell Okung, who has said he lost over 100 pounds on a "water fast" in an X post in June 2023.  

"Many retired players have noted that in their playing days they needed to eat extra calories to keep a higher weight. Once retired, that is a non-issue for players who are trying to get to a more normal size," Bonci said.

Bonci, who has also worked with Jason's brother Travis with the Chiefs from 2015 to January 2024, said her best advice to offensive linemen like Kelce after retirement is to focus on eating more produce and avoid sports drinks and alcohol. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.