Three former University of Pennsylvania women's swimmers, Grace Estabrook, Margot Kaczorowski, and Ellen Holmquist, have initiated legal action against the university, Harvard University, the NCAA, and the Ivy League. Their lawsuit stems from their experiences sharing a team with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, though Thomas is not named as a defendant. The suit, backed by the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), alleges violations of their Title IX rights due to the NCAA's 2010 policy allowing biological males to compete in women's sports based on gender identity. They seek the removal of Thomas's records from the women's category and detail the emotional distress they experienced sharing a locker room with Thomas. The lawsuit claims UPenn administrators encouraged counseling for those struggling with Thomas's presence and warned against public dissent, threatening reputational damage and career prospects. It further alleges that the swimmers were initially told Thomas wouldn't share their locker room, a promise that was later broken, leading to distressing encounters. The suit also highlights the pressure the swimmers felt to remain silent, fearing removal from the team. At the 2022 Ivy League Championships, Thomas achieved significant success, setting records. The lawsuit notes Harvard's lack of alternative accommodations for female athletes uncomfortable sharing facilities with Thomas. The plaintiffs' experiences echo those of other female athletes, including Riley Gaines, who has also filed a lawsuit against the NCAA regarding its transgender athlete policies. This legal action unfolds against the backdrop of national debates surrounding transgender participation in sports, with President Trump expected to sign an executive order banning transgender athletes from women's sports and the House passing a bill to restrict federal funding for institutions allowing such participation. Fox News Digital has contacted the involved institutions for comment but has not yet received a response.

Lia Thomas of the Pennsylvania Quakers swims in the 500 yard freestyle event during a tri-meet against the Yale Bulldogs and the Dartmouth Big Green at Sheerr Pool on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania on January 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas poses with her teammates Hannah Kannan, Camryn Carter, and Margot Kaczorowski after winning the 400 yard freestyle relay during the 2022 Ivy League Womens Swimming and Diving Championships at Blodgett Pool on February 19, 2022 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)