During her ban, Parts faced restrictions such as being denied coaching, travel privileges, and team uniforms, and she had to pay her own way to meets, which caused her significant emotional distress.

Evie Parts, a transgender long-distance runner, filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, Swarthmore College, and its athletic officials, arguing that the NCAA's ban on transgender athletes in women's sports lacks legal authority and violates federal laws like Title IX.

The lawsuit claims that Swarthmore College violated federal law by reinstating Parts and allowing her to compete even after the NCAA implemented its policy banning transgender women from women's sports, which was enforced following her removal from the team.

This case is notable as the first among three lawsuits involving the athlete, directly naming the NCAA, and is part of a broader national debate over transgender participation in sports, with other cases against Princeton and a tennis league.

Despite being removed from the team due to NCAA policies, Parts was reinstated on April 11, 2025, and competed in several meets, including winning the 10,000 meters at the Bill Butler Invitational in April before graduating in May.

Parts transitioned during high school, enrolled at Swarthmore in fall 2020, and participated in cross country and track, although her competition was delayed due to COVID-19 and recovery from gender-affirmation surgery.

The lawsuit alleges that the NCAA's policies and the college's actions caused her psychological harm, including depression and suicidal thoughts, with officials accused of disregarding her well-being.

Swarthmore's athletic officials, including coach Peter Carroll and athletic director Brad Koch, are named in the lawsuit, which claims they caused her severe emotional distress and self-harm.

The lawsuit was filed amid a broader national controversy, including a February 2025 executive order by President Trump authorizing penalties on schools allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports, and the NCAA's ban on transgender athletes.

Parts was removed from the team on February 6, 2025, following the NCAA's new policy, and was only offered to compete as an unattached athlete or on the men's team, with restrictions on coaching, travel, and uniforms.

The Department of Education has intervened in some cases, reaching agreements with universities like UPenn and Wagner College, but investigations and disputes over transgender athlete participation continue across various institutions.

The lawsuit alleges that Swarthmore violated Title IX and federal law by reinstating Parts and allowing her to compete after policy changes, with her mental health deteriorating severely before her reinstatement.