A federal judge said the Trump administration must lift the freeze on federal funding to Maine.The ruling reads that the USDA “must immediately unfreeze and release to the state of Maine any federal funding that they have frozen or failed or refused to pay because of the state of Maine’s alleged failure to comply with the requirements of Title IX.”The administration is also “barred from freezing, terminating, or otherwise interfering with the state of Maine’s future federal funding for alleged violations of Title IX without complying with the legally required procedure.”CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM President Donald Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills clashed Friday at the White House over executive order compliance. (Pool via AP/Win McNamee/Getty Images)The USDA announced the funding freeze and a review of federal funding to Maine earlier this month after the state refused to provide equal opportunities to women and girls in educational programs.The state has refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s February executive order to ban trans athletes from girls’ and women’s sports, prompting immense federal pressure. Trump initially vowed to cut federal funding to the state if it were to refuse to comply with the order during a Feb. 20 speech. Maine officials filed a lawsuit against the USDA on Monday following the agency’s decision to freeze funding to the state.The state accused the USDA of “withholding funding used to feed children in schools, childcare centers, and after-school programming as well as disabled adults in congregate settings,” an argument the judge agreed with.The judge noted that the freeze was due to Title IX violations, but it restricted the ability to “provid[e] meals to children and vulnerable adults.” Gov. Janet Mills speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of a mass shooting, in Lewiston, Maine, Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)Sen. Susan Collins, R-ME, recently called for the issues between the administration and her state to be “resolved,” saying that she would continue to fight for federal funding for the state while also being against transgender athletes in biological female sports.The Department of Education also launched an investigation into the state due to the issue.The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) referred the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to the Department of Justice on Friday for continuning to allow trans athletes to compete in girls sports. It is the second DOJ referral the state’s educational institutions have faced in the last month over the issue, after the Department of Health and Human Services referred MDOE, the Maine Principals’ Association and Greely High School on March 28.After Trump signed an executive order to ban trans athletes from women’s and girls’ sports on February 5, Maine was one of the many states that openly defied the order. The state’s divide on trans inclusion was then brought to light when Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby identified in a social media post a trans athlete who had won a girls pole vault competition for Greely High School that month.  Democratic Maine Gov. Janet Mills challenges U.S. President Donald Trump over trans women in sports as Trump addresses a meeting of governors at the White House on February 21, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Win McNamee/Getty Images)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLibby was censured by Maine’s Democratic majority and Speaker Ryan Fecteau for the post, which has prevented her from carrying out other legislative actions to serve her constituents.Fox News’ Jackson Thompson and Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

The battle between the Trump administration and the state of Maine is approaching two months amid the Pine Tree State continuing to allow transgender athletes to compete against biological females.Maine officials on Monday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in response to the agency’s decision to freeze funding to the state for its refusal to reverse its transgender athlete participation policy in schools.The state has been under federal pressure in recent months to protect female athletes from trans inclusion after several controversial incidents involving trans athletes and an ongoing feud between President Donald Trump and Maine Gov. Janet Mills. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM “The conflict between how the State of Maine and the Administration interpret Title IX needs to be resolved,” Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, wrote Friday in a post on X. (Rich Beauchesne/Seacoastonline)Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, though, understands both sides of the coin, and wants it all to end.”The conflict between how the State of Maine and the Administration interpret Title IX needs to be resolved,” Collins began in an X post on Friday. “I agree with the federal government’s position that biological males should not compete in girls and women’s athletics. Policies to the contrary violate the original intent behind Title IX. “People who are transgender deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. But that does not change the fact that Title IX mandated equal access to athletic resources and facilities on the basis of sex – not on the basis of gender identity. Safe and fair athletic competition has been one of the keys to the success of Title IX. While I will continue to advocate strongly for federal funding for Maine, I disagree with the state’s position and instead support the original intent behind Title IX.”The Department of Education has also launched an investigation into the state due to the issue. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, addresses the press in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 6, 2022. (Mark Makela/Getty Images)NCAA POWER FOUR COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY ‘NEED HELP FROM CONGRESS’ TO REGULATE NIL, TRANSFER PORTALThe Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) referred the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday for continuing to allow trans athletes to compete in girls’ sports. It’s the second DOJ referral the state’s educational institutions have faced in the past month over the issue, after the Department of Health and Human Services referred MDOE, the Maine Principals’ Association and Greely High School on March 28.After Trump signed an executive order to ban trans athletes from women’s and girls’ sports on Feb. 5, Maine was one of the many states that openly defied the order. The state’s divide on trans inclusion was then brought to light when Maine state Rep. Laurel Libby identified a trans athlete in a social media post who won a girls’ pole vault competition for Greely High School that month. Libby was subsequently censured by the state legislature. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, speaks at a Senate Appropriations hearing to examine disaster funding needs on Nov. 20, 2024. (IMAGN)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPLibby filed a lawsuit last month, which seeks to have her voting and speaking rights restored. She was originally told she would have her rights restored if she apologized for the post. Libby has said she will not apologize, but has said she is willing to drop the suit if her censure is dropped.Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

USA Fencing has acknowledged a forthcoming federal investigation into an incident that occurred at one of its events where a women’s fencer was punished for refusing to face a transgender competitor. The investigation, which will be carried out by the newly-formed Title IX investigations team in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education and Department of Justice, was announced on Friday by Education Secretary Linda McMahon. The incident, which occurred at the Cherry Blossom Open in Maryland on March 30, saw female fencer Stephanie Turner take a knee in protest of trans competitor Redmond Sullivan. Turner was then disqualified from the event and escorted out of the venue.USA Fencing provided a statement to Fox News Digital saying it will cooperate with the investigation. “USA Fencing will respond and cooperate to any inquiry as required by law,” the statement read. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMThe incident involving Turner quickly drew national attention after a video of her taking a knee to protest Sullivan went viral. The footage ignited widespread awareness and backlash against USA Fencing’s gender eligibility policies. Turner told Fox News Digital that she came to the decision to take the knee the night before the event, when she checked the competition pools and saw that she would be competing against Sullivan.”I saw that I was going to be in a pool with Redmond, and from there I said, ‘OK, let’s do it. I’m going to take the knee,'” Turner said. “I knew what I had to do because USA Fencing had not been listening to women’s objections regarding [its gender eligibility policy].”WHO IS STEPHANIE TURNER? WOMEN’S FENCER WHO KNELT TO PROTEST TRANS OPPONENT AND IGNITED GLOBAL AWARENESSUSA Fencing first enacted its current trans-inclusion policy in 2023. It allows transgender athletes to compete in the women’s category at both the junior and senior level after completing one calendar year of testosterone suppression treatment. Proof of compliant hormone therapy must be provided prior to competition, but the organization has taken even further steps to prioritize its trans competitors. In November 2022, it announced a policy to give preference when selecting host cities for national tournaments to states without laws that “harm members of LGBTQ communities” and states that do not “have laws undermining the reproductive health of women.” That policy went into effect in the 2023 season, the same year it changed its gender policy. It later released a list of states that it intended to “avoid where possible” and the states that it flat out would not allow hosting major events.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThis past December, a nonprofit fencing organization, the Fair Fencing Organization, penned an open letter to USA Fencing Board Members urging the re-evaluation of its stance on several issues, including transgender inclusion. Just days later, however, board members voted against several motions to approve an all-female task force to re-evaluate and revise the current transgender policy, in an 8-3 vote. Now, after siding against women fencers seeking protection from trans inclusion, USA Fencing faces potential federal sanctions.This Title IX investigation will be one of the first missions for the newly formed Title IX investigations team, which was officially formed last week. The initiative was announced last Friday with the mission to “protect female athletes, from the pernicious effects of gender ideology in school programs and activities.”Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. 

Bryson DeChambeau had a great second round at the Masters Friday, shooting a 4-under 68.However, fans were upset they couldn’t watch him because he was neither in one of the featured groups fans could watch on the Masters app nor shown much during ESPN’s coverage of the major tournament.Rapper Lil Wayne took to social media to express his frustration about not being able to watch DeChambeau.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after finishing on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club April 11, 2025.  (Katie Goodale/Imagn Images)”The Masters blew it (with) this lack of coverage on Bryson!!! They gotta stop (hating) on the LIV s—. This man is killin’ it out there and I can’t watch,” Wayne posted to X.On the Masters website, the three featured groups that were followed while DeChambeau played were Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler’s groups.As DeChambeau climbed the leaderboard Friday, fans who watched the website struggled to find the LIV star because he wasn’t shown with the featured groups. “I cannot believe Bryson DeChambeau is not a featured group today at the Masters. He’s electric to watch!” One user posted to X. MAX HOMA DROPS INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE AFTER MAKING CUT AT MASTERS, HIS FIRST IN NEARLY 9 MONTHS Bryson DeChambeau plays a shot from the 16th tee during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.  (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)”Bryson DeChambeau is arguably the most popular golfer in the world and I can’t seem to find a way to see him hit a shot on ESPN’s coverage right now,” another user posted. One person even went as far as calling the Masters app a “travesty.””Second day in a row you don’t get any coverage of Bryson DeChambeau the (Masters) App and it’s people are a travesty,” the user posted on social media. ESPN+ broadcast portions of the tournament until 3 p.m. ET, when the main broadcast moved to ESPN. By that time, DeChambeau had already been through 16 holes.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Bryson DeChambeau fist-bumps his caddy, Greg Bodine, after finishing on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club April 11, 2025.  (Katie Goodale/Imagn Images)At the time of this writing, DeChambeau was 7-under in the tournament and alone in second place, one stroke behind Rose.At the Masters last year, DeChambeau finished in a tie for sixth place after he shot a 65 in the opening round. While he didn’t win at Augusta National last year, DeChambeau did win a major tournament, the U.S. Open, by one stroke over McIlroy. DeChambeau was the 2016 Masters low amateur winner and hopes to finish strong and take home a green jacket in his ninth Masters start. Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

A season that was supposed to be defined by parity instead ended with the two most iconic brands in women’s basketball meeting in the national title game and UConn adding a historic record 12th title. Those programs once again top the field in this way-too-early look at 2025-26.As is tradition in these power rankings, the defending champions get the top spot. However, an early wave of entrants into the transfer portal, combined with the double graduations of the senior class and the super senior class from the pandemic bonus year, has created a lot more flux below the upper tier.AdvertisementSome teams barely have enough players to field a lineup now. Most rosters will be unrecognizable when comparing today with the start of the regular season as transfers pick their new landing spots, putting a heavier emphasis on recruiting classes because the status of returning players is uncertain.Almost famous: Baylor, Maryland, ColumbiaFinal Four teams aren’t going anywhereEven without Paige Bueckers, UConn is a worthy candidate for the best team in the country thanks to its rising superstar Sarah Strong. She finished the season second nationally in win shares behind only Bueckers and figures to become even more prolific with more of the offense running through her as a sophomore.With Strong, Jana El Alfy and Azzi Fudd returning from the starting lineup, plus KK Arnold and Ashlynn Shade ready to assume bigger roles as juniors (they already took on bigger burdens as freshmen), this is the best five in the country. Ice Brady, Allie Ziebell, Morgan Cheli and the sixth-ranked recruiting class provide solid depth even if the Huskies don’t add any transfers.South Carolina will lose at least three starters, and potentially four if Raven Johnson decides to go pro. But the Gamecocks machine is ready to backfill, with MiLaysia Fulwiley, Tessa Johnson and Joyce Edwards waiting in the wings. This isn’t a program that rebuilds; it reloads.Texas also loses two starters but has a trio of rising sophomores (Jordan Lee, Bryanna Preston, and Justice Carlton) to help Madison Booker get to the next level. The talent is obvious, but South Carolina’s historical dominance of the SEC — and Dawn Staley’s historical dominance over Vic Schaefer — keeps the Gamecocks ahead of the Longhorns for now.UCLA can welcome back the most players from its Final Four team, with everyone eligible to return. However, the national semifinal flameout creates some doubt about the Bruins’ overall ceiling compared with the rest of this crew, slotting them in fourth despite being the No. 1 team for most of the season.
Kevin Durant is a fan of Sarah Strong’s game
Strong’s performance in the National Championship:
24 PTS 15 REB 5 AST 3 BLK2 STL10/15 FGM pic.twitter.com/HsGN9CcORO
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 6, 2025SEC is still deepest conferenceBeyond the co-conference champions, the rest of the SEC is also reloading. LSU has the perimeter duo of Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams plus the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, headlined by Grace Knox.Tennessee’s Kim Caldwell can now get players to specifically fit her system and has brought in the second-best class with several dynamic guards to play alongside Talaysia Cooper, Zee Spearman and Ruby Whitehorn.AdvertisementThe single best freshman is headed to Oklahoma to join Raegan Beers, Sahara Williams and Zya Vann. As such, all three teams, which all advanced to the 2025 Sweet 16, project in the top 10.Kentucky is harder to evaluate with the loss of Georgia Amoore, who has been central to everything Kenny Brooks has built in Lexington and previously at Virginia Tech. However, the return of three starters, including Clara Strack, healthy seasons for Jordan Obi and Dominika Paurova, plus Brooks’ historical success in the portal keep the Wildcats’ outlook high.Vanderbilt returns the dynamic duo of Mikayla Blakes and Khamil Pierre. Mississippi State has many holes to fill, but a top-15 class coming in to surround Madina Okot is worth including in this group.I’m keeping an eye on Georgia as well. The Bulldogs struggled to a 4-12 SEC record in 2024-25 but beat the Lady Vols on the last day of the regular season. Rising sophomores Trinity Turner and Mia Woolfolk are a strong core to build around, and Katie Abrahamson-Henderson brings in a top-20 class.Which young teams can take next step?Duke slides into the top five as it expects to bring back eight of its 10 rotation players. Ashlon Jackson had her best season as a junior, and underclassmen Jadyn Donovan, Oluchi Okananwa and Toby Fournier have all taken significant steps forward in Durham. With a true center next season in Arianna Roberson (who missed 2024-25 with an injury), the Blue Devils might finally have the pieces to make their first Final Four in two decades after coming up one possession short in 2025.Iowa’s freshman class showed flashes in its first year. Ava Heiden, Teagan Mallegni and Taylor Stremlow will need to be much more productive to get the Hawkeyes back to hosting in the first weekend, though incoming freshman Addison Deal should help juice the offense.AdvertisementMichigan’s trio of freshmen (Syla Swords, Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway) needs some reinforcements in the frontcourt. The Wolverines can get that in the portal — Swords’ high school teammate Kate Koval, who might leave Notre Dame, would be an excellent addition. If so, the Wolverines could challenge in the Big Ten.Louisville had five freshmen in the rotation last season, and the Cardinals found their next cornerstone in Tajianna Roberts. The veterans are basically all gone except for Ja’Leah Williams, but this ranking is a bet on Roberts being good enough to lead Louisville and Mackenly Randolph filling in Olivia Cochran’s shoes.Elsewhere in the ACC, this might be a year early for NC State, considering the Wolfpack lose a trio of starters and have no seniors. However, the freshman class of Tilda Trygger, Lorena Awou, Zamareya Jones and Devyn Quigley is promising. With Zoe Brooks at the helm, there is still a lot to work with.Iowa State was the young team last season, and we just can’t quit the potential of Audi Crooks and Addy Brown. The Cyclones’ ceiling is still probably limited by Crooks’ defense, but to start the year, there is too much continuity and talent to leave Iowa State out of the top 15.
𝘼𝙡𝙡-𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 @AudiCrooks has been named a Third Team All-American by the @AP and @USBWA!
| : https://t.co/aSPesV0w9d pic.twitter.com/aR2MhnPRRF
— Cyclone Basketball (@CycloneWBB) March 19, 2025And a nod to the WBIT champs, Minnesota. Even without Mara Brown, the Golden Gophers’ core of Amaya Battle, Grace Grocholski and Tori McKinney did some special things to close out the 2024-25 season. If Braun can ever be healthy, and this ranking presupposes that, Minnesota has so many long, versatile forwards/wings and is a modern basketball fan’s dream.Big names missingCulling this list to 25, especially at the start of the season, is always tricky. Teams such as Baylor, Ohio State, Columbia and West Virginia could easily have slotted in ahead of Maryland or Alabama.But let’s address the elephants in the room: the big-name teams that either didn’t make the rankings at all or barely squeezed in. Notre Dame slots in at 25 because it’s impossible to exclude two-time first-team All-American Hannah Hidalgo altogether, even if she has essentially no other teammates but Cassandre Prosper after a portal exodus, which included backcourt mate Olivia Miles. Regardless of who ends up playing next to Hidalgo in 2025-26, she can will the Irish to enough wins.AdvertisementUSC and TCU, teams that lost in the Elite Eight, couldn’t make the cut, however. The Trojans are expected to be without JuJu Watkins for most of the season, and they graduated four seniors who played significant roles. Two of their three top freshmen are in the portal, so the combination of Kennedy Smith, Malia Samuels and incoming Jazzy Davidson wasn’t enough to vault past these other teams.With TCU, the roster is barren. Although Mark Campbell will almost certainly sign some of the best transfers in the country, as he has done each of the past two seasons, they aren’t in Fort Worth yet. Donovyn Hunter alone does not make a top-25 team.(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Joe Buglewicz, Patrick McDermott, Jacob Kupferman / Getty Images)

To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should…