Candace Owens, known for her unapologetically strong stances on cultural and political issues, has once again made headlines by taking aim at Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer who has stirred controversy in the realm of women’s sports. Owens has called for an outright ban on Thomas’s participation in women’s sports, declaring that this issue represents a critical turning point for protecting the integrity of female athletics. Her statement is a lightning rod for both criticism and support, highlighting the deeply polarized views surrounding transgender athletes competing in gendered categories.
Owens’s remarks come in the wake of a larger societal debate about the balance between inclusivity and maintaining a level playing field. For Lia Thomas, a former male swimmer who transitioned and began competing in women’s categories, her success in the pool has drawn both applause and accusations of unfairness. Owens, however, is firm in her belief that Thomas’s participation undermines the very foundation of women’s sports.
“This stops now,” Owens declared during her latest podcast episode, a platform where she often addresses hot-button issues. “Women have fought for decades—decades—for the opportunity to compete at the highest levels, and now we’re watching that progress be erased in the name of political correctness. Lia Thomas should not be competing against biological women. This isn’t equality; it’s injustice, plain and simple.”
Owens’s critique is not without precedent. The debate over transgender athletes has been raging for years, but it reached a fever pitch when Lia Thomas shattered records in the NCAA women’s swimming division. For Owens, and many others who share her viewpoint, the issue isn’t about excluding transgender individuals from sports but ensuring that biological differences do not create a competitive imbalance.
Supporters of Owens’s stance argue that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports could undo decades of hard-fought progress for female athletes. They cite scientific studies indicating that male puberty provides advantages in areas such as strength, speed, and endurance, advantages that may persist even after hormone therapy. For critics of Lia Thomas’s participation, the issue is not personal; it’s about safeguarding the future of women’s sports for biological women.
However, Owens’s comments have also reignited fierce backlash. Advocates for transgender rights argue that barring transgender athletes from competing in their chosen categories amounts to discrimination. They emphasize the importance of inclusivity in sports, framing participation as a fundamental right. To them, Lia Thomas represents a broader fight for equality, where transgender individuals can compete without fear of being marginalized or excluded.
For Owens, though, this argument misses the point. She’s adamant that inclusion cannot come at the expense of fairness. “We’re not saying Lia Thomas can’t swim,” she clarified. “We’re saying Lia Thomas shouldn’t swim against women. Create an open category if you must, but stop pretending this is fair to the women who train their entire lives for this moment.”
Owens’s suggestion of an open category has gained traction among some commentators, who see it as a potential compromise. Such a category would allow transgender athletes to compete without facing accusations of unfair advantages while preserving the integrity of traditional male and female divisions. While the logistics of implementing such a solution remain unclear, it’s an idea that could offer a middle ground in an otherwise contentious debate.
The clash between Owens’s stance and Lia Thomas’s right to compete underscores a broader cultural battle. It’s a battle that goes beyond sports, touching on issues of identity, science, and what it means to be fair. For Candace Owens, though, the path forward is clear: women’s sports must be protected, even if it means making uncomfortable decisions.
As the debate rages on, one thing is certain: this issue is not going away anytime soon. Candace Owens’s call for action, punctuated by her defiant declaration—“This stops now”—has forced the world to confront the complexities of equality in modern sports. Whether you see her as a champion for fairness or a provocateur stirring the pot, her voice has become impossible to ignore.
“When the dust settles,” Owens concluded, “we’ll look back and ask ourselves: did we stand up for what was right, or did we let fear silence us? For me, the answer is simple. Women deserve better.”
