A large coalition of advocacy groups and athletes—including the likes of former tennis great Billie Jean King, soccer star Megan Rapinoe and basketball players Sue Bird and Reggie Bullock—sent letters Wednesday to the NCAA asking that the state of Idaho be barred from hosting NCAA-sponsored events while a law limiting female transgender and intersex sports participation is on the books.
The letters, obtained by Sports Illustrated, specifically target 2021 NCAA men’s basketball tournament games that are scheduled to be played March 18–20 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise. Citing House Bill 5000, which was signed into law March 30, the letters state: “Given Idaho’s adoption of a discriminatory law that directly impacts college athletics, violates NCAA values, and undermines the dignity and well-being of NCAA athletes, Idaho schools no longer qualify to host NCAA events.