Former Swimmer Criticizes Virginia Governor’s Decision on Female Sports Regulation

Ex-Roanoke College swimmer Lily Mullens, known for her public opposition against a transgender athlete’s inclusion in her women’s team, has voiced her concerns over Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s withdrawal of a proposed regulation aimed at safeguarding female-only sports and spaces. Mullens, along with Hungarian Olympian Réka György and former Roanoke teammate Carter Satterfield, formally petitioned the Virginia State Board of Health for this regulation.

Mullens expressed disappointment with the recent halt in progress, stating, “Due to Governor Youngkin’s previous leadership, Virginia made strides in protecting female athletes. Under Governor Spanberger, these efforts have stopped abruptly.” She criticized Spanberger for not being transparent about her decision, suggesting it indicates a disregard for the viewpoint of Virginia’s female athletes. Mullens hoped for solidarity from a fellow woman leader but feels let down.

Mullens highlighted how a leader’s stance on this issue could impact those involved in teams and programs. She questioned Spanberger’s leadership choices, emphasizing the biological differences between men and women as an undeniable truth defended by the previous administration. Mullens expressed dismay over abandoning efforts made to protect women’s sports.

The debate drew national attention when Mullens and her teammates resisted a transgender student’s participation in their swimming team in 2023. The athlete eventually withdrew before competing. Mullens, György, and Satterfield’s petition to the Virginia Board of Health aimed to restrict biological males from female-only sports and spaces. Filed in April 2025, it gathered over 2,300 public comments. The Board of Health unanimously agreed to a regulatory change in August 2025. Governor Youngkin’s administration endorsed this move, and a new regulatory action started developing, receiving 321 comments. However, in July 2026, with Spanberger as governor, the Board of Health retracted the action without public announcement.

“Upon review of statutory authority, the State Board of Health is not proceeding with this regulatory action,” the notice said.

György also expressed sorrow over the decision, referencing her motivation to support sex-separated sports based on her experiences competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in 2022.

Governor Spanberger, during her 2025 campaign, advocated for a process involving parents and school authorities to make decisions on transgender athletes on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like age and competition level. Her office hasn’t provided further comment on the matter.

Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers key political and cultural issues in sports. His work impacts federal government actions related to Title IX enforcement and is cited by top media outlets like The New York Times and ESPN.