Jennifer Sey of XX-XY Athletics Talks About the Battle for Girls and Women's Sports

Between travel, moving homes, and getting organized, video interviews had to be put on the back burner for a bit. Truth be told, I’m still not organized, so this foray back in is a bit rocky—my apologies in advance.

This interview is well worth the view, especially in light competitive fencer Stephanie Turner’s recent refusal to take part in a bout with a man who identifies as female. It is for courageous young women like Turner that Jennifer Sey founded XX-XY Athletics.

Sey is the 1986 Women's National Gymnastics Champion and former brand manager for Levi Strauss. Sey founded XX-XY Athletics in March of 2024 as a stand against the cultural tide of erasing women, particularly in the realm of women and girl’s sports.

This week, XX-XY Athletics celebrated their one-year anniversary as the first athletic brand to stand up for women.

I talked briefly with Sey about Sia Liilii, the brand’s first 2025 Courage Wins Champion. As the captain of her college volleyball team, Liilii stood up, refusing to play against a transgender male on the opposing team. Liilii organized her teammates to do the same, forcing the game to be forfeited. Sey talked about honoring Liilii for her courage, and the continued journey and battle being waged against women and young girls, particularly in the realm of sports.

Courage Wins Champion Sia Liilii. Credit: XX-XY Athletics. Used with permission.

In a recent press release celebrating their inaugural year, Sey said,

We are here to transform the culture. The overwhelming majority of Americans—80%—believe women’s sports should be for XX athletes only. Our goal is to ensure women athletes' voices are at the center of the conversation, not at the margins. We will not rest until no sport governing body allows a male to take a spot, a trophy, or a dream from a female athlete. (Even when that is achieved, we’ll continue fighting for and celebrating female athletes in all the ways they deserve to be supported.)

Sey gives some good advice to young female athletes on how to stand up for their right to their own sports and their own spaces, and how to keep the faith in fighting this good fight.