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National

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by her university

She was the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title after finishing first in the women's 500-yard freestyle championship.

Photo: Mike Comer/NCAA Photos via Getty Images

National Collegiate Athletic Assocation (NCAA)

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lia Thomas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/12/lia-thomas-penn-transgender-swimmer" data-vars-content-id="46b4b55b-eb42-4d13-8afa-50dca9a863db" data-vars-headline="Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by her university" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/01/12/lia-thomas-penn-transgender-swimmer" target="_self">Lia Thomas</a>, a transgender woman who swims for the University of Pennsylvania, was one of more than 240 Division I athletes nominated by their schools for the 2022 Woman of the Year award, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NCAA announced" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2022/7/14/media-center-ncaa-member-schools-release-nominations-for-2022-woman-of-the-year-award.aspx" data-vars-content-id="46b4b55b-eb42-4d13-8afa-50dca9a863db" data-vars-headline="Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by her university" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaa.org/news/2022/7/14/media-center-ncaa-member-schools-release-nominations-for-2022-woman-of-the-year-award.aspx" target="_blank">NCAA announced</a> on Friday. Why it matters: Thomas&#x27; rise and success have drawn criticism from some corners and fueled debate over <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="transgender participation in elite sports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2021/10/18/trans-kids-sports-texas-abbott" data-vars-content-id="46b4b55b-eb42-4d13-8afa-50dca9a863db" data-vars-headline="Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by her university" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2021/10/18/trans-kids-sports-texas-abbott" target="_self">transgender participation in elite sports</a>.

Axios

Sunday's sports stories

Lia Thomas nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year award by her university