Among the names in the NCAA transfer portal is Rochester Institute of Technology (N.Y.) track athlete Sadie Schreiner. The two-time NCAA Division III All-American at 200 and 400 meters last season sought out opportunities in NCAA Division I.
On her instagram Monday she put up a video stating that her being a transgender woman was a definite factor in why she had no takers despite drawing interest and offers from coaches, including some at major conference “Power 4” universities.
“After entering the transfer portal it quickly became apparent that among all the hurdles transfers usually have, there is an extra layer because I am trans,” she noted. “Fifty percent of the country banned me for participating so I couldn’t attend any of those colleges, even if they reached out to my with full rides.”
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In the video, Schreiner also displayed a chart showing the the number of schools contacted, and how the situation developed from there. She cited that she was in contact with 42 Division I schools, 18 of which made primary contact with her.
According to Schreiner, three schools offered full-ride scholarships. In the current state of NCAA track and field, even with the new roster and scholarship regulations set to begin in fall 2025, such offers aren’t the norm in the sport.
She confirmed that one of those full-ride offers came from a university in a state that is one of the 26 that prohibit transgender women and girls from interscholastic and intercollegiate women’s competition.
Denials also came from universities in states that are perceived to be “safe states” for trans people. Ten schools, all in “blue” states with coaches Schreiner said were “adamant” in hopes of signing her, decided not to move forward due to administrative pressure above the head track coach.
“The coaches that were talking to me weren’t the issue, it was the school administrators.” she told Outsports. “At least four of these institutions were Power 4 schools — ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC — which is a significant number out of the few in Democratic states that permit trans participation.”
Recent history shows that even at universities in states with robust LGBTQ rights protections, such as San Jose State in California, the spectre of situations like last fall’s Mountain West volleyball forfeit crisis makes schools squeamish. The political climate of the nation, including an incoming presidential administration openly hostile to transgender rights, adds to the tension.
“We had the election. The anti-trans rhetoric was so hot that this was an opportunity to explode,” diversity and equity consultant Jen Fry told Outsports in the middle of the SJSU affair.
Fry also touched on how much university administration are limited in this environment.
“Not only is there no road map, they are literally going through the forest and having to cut down massive trees while trying to think about the athlete’s safety and the team’s safety,” Fry noted.
Such sentiments have been echoed by university administrators and quoted in a number of think pieces, dating back nearly three years. The national debate sparked by University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas’ NCAA swim title in 2022 has grown into a full-blown political issue that defined a piece of last year’s U.S. general election campaign.
Even the highest authority in the largest college sports governing body in the U.S. is reluctant to take a stand. When pressed by anti-trans senators during hearing on sports gambling last month, NCAA President Charlie Baker tried every means to deflect the conversation and the regulatory responsibility.
“Part of our challenge is a very murky set of court decisions at the state and federal level around this issue,” Baker stated. “Which creates a certain lack of clarity around our policy because our policy ultimately needs to comply with federal policy, which is why guidance on the regulatory side or the statutory side will be helpful.”
Caught in middle are the small number of trans student-athletes like Schreiner, who excelled last season even while worrying about possible restrictions to come in her sport. She enters the heart of the indoor track season with one eye on the competition ahead and one dealing with continued uncertainty.
“I aimed to transfer in order to not only improve my athletic ability in a more competitive environment, but to help with the funds I needed to complete my degree. It will now likely be impossible to do so,” she stated. “Trans people are actively getting attacked right now and our rights are getting stripped away. Those in power are either endorsing that or just letting it happen.
“I’m preparing myself for what may be to come. But no matter what, I will be competing.”
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