Tennis Legend Fires Back After Senate Dems Drop Ball on Women’s Sports Bill

Martina Navratilova, the tennis icon with 18 Grand Slam titles to her name, didn’t hold back after Senate Democrats failed to support the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in a procedural vote. The bill, spearheaded by Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., aimed to ensure that biological males would not compete in women’s sports under Title IX. However, it fell short of the 60 votes needed to break the filibuster, with a final tally of 51-45.

Notably, no Senate Democrats voted for the bill, and four senators, including two Democrats and two Republicans, were absent from the vote. Navratilova, a longtime Democrat herself, voiced her frustration on X (formerly Twitter), writing, "I don’t either and I am mad as hell." She has been vocal about her stance, criticizing her own party for what she perceives as a failure to protect women’s sports.

Navratilova’s criticism of Democrats isn’t new. When former President Donald Trump signed the "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order last month, she called out her party for "totally failing women and girls on this very clear issue of women’s sports being for females only." Her message? Democrats need to "grow a spine" and stand up for what’s right, even if it means putting re-election worries aside.

The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act would have required Title IX to define gender based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth, explicitly excluding adjustments to include gender identity. The bill had over 40 co-sponsors in the Senate and was designed to codify one of Trump’s executive orders, potentially giving it greater permanence.

Navratilova’s fiery stance highlights a growing tension within progressive circles over how to balance inclusivity with fairness in competitive sports. While her party remains hesitant to back such measures, her public statements continue to draw attention to an issue that’s clearly far from settled.