US Justice Department Reviews Ejection of Activists from Portland Women's Soccer Match

The US Department of Justice has launched a review into the ejection of 'Save Women's Sports' activists from a Portland soccer match over potential First Amendment violations. Around 20 activists wearing XX-XY Athletics shirts were forcibly escorted out of a Portland Thorns NWSL match on Friday night after a demonstration supporting female-only sports.

Women's sports activist Amy Sousa told OutKick that she and other XX-XY Athletics attendees filed police reports after being escorted out of the stadium. Members of the group said they were struck and verbally berated by other fans during the match.

In a Tuesday appearance on 'The Faulkner Focus,' Sousa said she and others were bombarded with food, beer, flags and poles. The incident took place at the match on Friday, October 23, 2026, when the activists unfurled a large 'Save Women's Sports' banner and revealed XX-XY shirts.

Sousa said on Tuesday that their message was very clear, 'Save women's sports,' and that they were forcibly removed from a women's sporting event for expressing support for the very category that makes the event possible. She said the issue goes far beyond the NWSL and affects girls in high schools, junior highs and elementary schools.

Sousa said she was told by security that their XX-XY shirts did not violate any policy. She suspects, however, that they were taken out because security could not protect them adequately from the fans who were harassing them.

Asked why they, instead of the alleged harassers, were kicked out, Sousa said many people would like to hear the answer to that question. Director of Security Jim McCausland was texted for comment but said he did not have time to talk. OutKick also asked the Thorns' communication director why the XX-XY attendees were escorted out but not their alleged attackers, and received no response.

OutKick reporter Matt Calkins, who was credentialed for the match, attempted to document the confrontation but was also subjected to verbal and physical aggression. He was flipped off, called a Nazi, had his phone knocked out of his hand and had beer poured on his neck, according to the report.

A separate security guard also yanked Calkins' credential from around his neck as he interviewed Sousa. The guard returned it seconds later but declined to explain his actions when questioned.

This was not the first time Sousa and XX-XY Athletics supporters had been ejected from a Thorns game at Providence Park. A smaller group was removed in early September, when Sousa said she was accused of being 'transphobic' for her pro-women apparel.

Sousa said the campaign is about protecting the integrity of the category of sex and defending the promise of Title IX, that girls deserve equal athletic opportunity, fair competition and safety on the basis of sex. She said many in her team were in Camas, Washington last week, where 12 girls walked off their field because of a boy competing against them.

In Sousa's words, young girls should not be forced to become activists in their own competition; they need adults willing to stand up and speak out for them. She said this is not about identity, but about the integrity of girls' sports.