Riley Gaines spoke at Franciscan University on March 4, 2026, urging sex-segregated sports and criticizing transgender athlete inclusion, citing her 2022 NCAA tie with Lia Thomas.

Riley Gaines, a 12-time NCAA All-American swimmer, spoke at Franciscan University on March 4, 2026, as part of Turning Point USA’s “Pick Up the Mic” initiative, advocating for sex-segregated sports and criticizing the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. She cited her 2022 NCAA tie with Lia Thomas as a pivotal moment, emphasizing fairness and Title IX’s intent. Gaines praised President Trump’s executive order banning biological males from women’s sports in federally funded programs and honored Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. The event drew a standing-room-only crowd and highlighted ongoing national debates over transgender inclusion in athletics.