Trans darts star faces “insane” backlash after winning titles against both men & women in same week

Dutch darts sensation Noa-Lyn van Leuven is facing backlash after historic back-to-back victories against both men and women in the same week.

Last week, the 27-year-old won the mixed PDC Challenge Tour in Germany, defeating several past male winners. She’s the first woman to win an event in the series, one level below the sport’s top tier.

Related:

Trans athlete in New Zealand denied entry to women’s darts tournament

“They’re barring me from playing. They’re breaching human rights instead of allowing inclusion.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Darts-Deutschland (@darts.universe)

Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox

Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world.

Daily

Weekly

Good News

Van Leuven then played a women’s event in the UK on Saturday, defeating two highly placed veteran players, including the current No. 1 woman, Beau Greaves. After that quarter-final victory, van Leuven went on to dispatch Ireland’s Katie Sheldon in the final.

Controversy has since courted van Leuven’s historic wins.

“No male bodies in women’s sports please, not even in darts,” out tennis legend Martina Navratilova, a vocal opponent of trans inclusion in women’s sports, wrote on X. “Again, women get the short end of the stick and it stinks.”

Two of van Leuven’s teammates, Anca Zijlstra and Aileen de Graaf, quit over her presence on the Dutch squad, citing disagreement over rules around trans inclusion.

“That moment when you’re embarrassed to come out for the Dutch team, because a biological man is playing on the women’s team, it’s time to go,” Zijlstra posted to Facebook. “I have tried to accept this but I can’t approve or validate this.”

“In sports, there should be an equal and fair playing field,” Zijlstra added. “I hope with all my heart and for all women in sports that people come to their senses.”

De Graff said van Leuven was free to “change and be happy,” but explained, “I just don’t think it’s right for a biological man to throw for the women or vice-versa. It’s either mixed or not.”

Trans journalist and activist Erin Reed wasn’t convinced a trans woman could have any advantage in the sport.

“Transgender women have a biological advantage at… Darts? That’s what is being claimed by a few people who are trying to get Noa-Lynn Van Leuven removed from a women’s darts team. There is no evidence transgender women are better at angles and throwing a dart.”

Van Leuven had little to say about the controversy, except to remind fellow players and keyboard warriors she has more in common with them than they’d like to admit.

“I think the only unfortunate thing about this issue is that a lot of people forget that I am also a human being.”

Following her mixed event win, van Leuven told OutSports she’s about to announce a new sponsor, and she’s looking forward to more appearances at upcoming televised tournaments.

She’s described the mostly online debate about her darts success as “insane” but says it’s not getting in her way. 

“I just go out and do the thing I love. It gives me joy.”