Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the 28-year-old Dutch darts player who made history as the first openly transgender competitor at the PDC World Darts Championship, faced a seismic setback on July 28, 2025, when the World Darts Federation (WDF) announced a new policy banning transgender women from its women’s and girls’ tournaments. The decision, effective immediately, restricts participation to those assigned female at birth, relegating van Leuven to the WDF’s Open Category, where she will compete against players of all genders. Despite the personal sting of exclusion, van Leuven broke her silence with a heartfelt and defiant Instagram post, delivering a powerful three-word message: “We remain visible.” Her response, coupled with her unyielding passion for darts, underscores her resilience in the face of adversity, even as the decision sparked renewed debate in the sport.
The WDF’s ruling, finalized after a vote by member countries during a Monday meeting, followed a proposal introduced at a September 2024 General Meeting to limit women’s events to those born female. “Effective Monday 28 July 2025, entry and participation in WDF Women’s and Girls Ranking Tournaments and Cups will only be open to players that are WOMEN/FEMALE as defined under this policy,” the WDF stated, acknowledging the challenges for affected players and noting direct communication with member countries to discuss the changes. For van Leuven, who helped the Netherlands win the 2024 WDF Women’s Europe Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2023 Dutch Open, the ban means she can no longer defend her titles in WDF women’s events. “This decision does affect me personally—though, thankfully, not too severely at this point in time. But still, it hurts,” she wrote on Instagram. “Once again, it’s a loss for the trans community in sports. And that breaks my heart.”
Van Leuven’s journey in darts has been one of triumph and turbulence. Since transitioning at 16, a decision she credits with saving her life after battling depression, she has risen to No. 4 in the PDC Women’s Order of Merit, winning six PDC Women’s Series titles, including a record-setting 109.64 average against Beau Greaves in 2024. Her historic 2024 PDC World Championship appearance, though ending in a first-round loss to Kevin Doets, marked her as a trailblazer. Yet, her success has drawn scrutiny. At the Women’s World Matchplay in Blackpool on July 27, 2025, van Leuven’s 4-0 quarter-final win over Lorraine Winstanley and 5-4 semi-final loss to Fallon Sherrock were overshadowed by anti-trans protests. Three spectators, one wearing a “Save Women’s Sport” shirt, were removed by security after reportedly attempting to throw objects during her entrance. “I love this game too much, why would I let anyone else ruin my passion for darts?” van Leuven told reporters at the event, emphasizing her determination to focus on her craft.
The WDF’s decision does not affect van Leuven’s participation in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where she remains eligible under the Darts Regulation Authority’s inclusive policy, requiring transgender players to maintain testosterone levels below 10 nmol/L for a year. PDC chief executive Matt Porter reaffirmed this stance in May 2025, stating, “There haven’t been directives passed down in law, or by regulatory bodies to sports organisations to make changes. We’re comfortable with that.” This support echoes sentiments from darts legend Michael van Gerwen, who faced van Leuven in the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts. “It’s just heartbreaking. She does what she does and she can play terrific darts. Let her play nice,” he said, highlighting the unfairness of the controversy surrounding her. Van Leuven’s PDC ranking positions her well for potential qualification for the 2025 Grand Slam and World Championship, offering a stage to continue her ascent.
The ban has reignited debates about transgender inclusion in sports, with critics like Deta Hedman, who forfeited a match against van Leuven in 2024, arguing it protects fairness, while others, including van Leuven, see it as discriminatory. “As a trans person in the darts world, I know how vital inclusion is—not just on paper, but in practice,” she wrote. “It’s disheartening to see yet another policy framed around ‘fairness’ that ultimately results in exclusion.” Her defiance resonates with supporters who admire her courage, especially after enduring death threats before the 2024 World Championship, which led to a mental health break earlier this year. As van Leuven prepares for the PDC Women’s Series in Milton Keynes next month, her focus remains clear: “My heart goes out to all the athletes impacted by this. We keep going.” With her darts in hand and a community behind her, van Leuven is determined to prove that her journey—and her love for the game—is far from over.
Leave a Reply