As the festive season unfolds and darts fans worldwide prepare for the iconic PDC World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace, a significant moment in sports history is taking shape. Noa-Lynn van Leuven, a 28-year-old professional darts player from the Netherlands, will become the first openly transgender competitor to step onto the Ally Pally stage. Her debut this Tuesday marks more than just another match in a celebrated tournament—it represents progress for transgender visibility in a sport that has long hesitated to embrace change.
Van Leuven’s road to this point has been anything but smooth. Having begun her gender transition as a teenager and completed her hormone therapy in 2022, she has faced relentless scrutiny. She has reported receiving death threats and witnessed prominent women’s players, including Aileen de Graaf and Anca Zijlstra, refuse to compete alongside or against her. English player Deta Hedman openly questioned whether a trans woman should be competing in women’s sports. Despite this adversity, Van Leuven’s talent has soared, with multiple titles earned in recent months securing her place at the world’s biggest darts competition.
Challenging Unfounded Advantages
Critics claim Van Leuven enjoys a biological advantage. Some point to her height, stance, and even hip movements—factors they insist give her an edge. Van Leuven dismisses these assertions, countering with simple logic and humor. “Sometimes I’m accused of having an advantage because of my height,” she has noted. “But look at Beau Greaves—we’re the same height. Or Phil Taylor, who dominated the sport despite not being tall at all.” She highlights that darts is a precision-focused game where raw physical strength is irrelevant. “It’s darts,” she says. “What are we even talking about with backswing or lunge movements?”
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has maintained its position that Van Leuven’s participation is fair despite the ongoing debate. PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter has emphasized that the current policy on transgender players is based on careful consideration and legal advice. Van Leuven met all the conditions and earned her spot like any other competitor. This clarity from the sport’s governing body sends a powerful message: she belongs on that stage.
Van Leuven acknowledges the weight of her visibility, recognizing that she will go down in history as the first openly transgender player at the World Championship. Still, she yearns for a time when the conversation focuses on her skill rather than her identity. “I’m a darts player, and I’m terribly good at it,” she says. “I just want to be Noa, to play darts, and not always have to talk about being transgender.”
This sentiment resonates profoundly with transgender individuals and their allies, who know the burden of constant scrutiny. Her presence stands as a reminder that trans athletes should not be novelties or perpetual talking points—they are competitors striving for success like anyone else.
Finding Allies and Making Progress
While opponents voice discomfort, Van Leuven has found support from prominent male players like Luke Humphries and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen. Both urged critics to respect Van Leuven’s right to compete without harassment. “Leave everyone in peace,” van Gerwen said simply. Humphries noted that Van Leuven had done nothing wrong: “She is in the competition, and she’s doing what she is allowed to do.”
These statements from darts heavyweights serve as a powerful counterpoint to the hostility Van Leuven has endured. Their support signals a shift within the sport’s culture, encouraging tolerance and respect for players of all genders.
While Van Leuven’s star continues to rise, she continues to balance a career outside the sport. Working as a junior sous chef, she has discovered that cooking and darts share a common thread—both demand skill, passion, and steady nerves. She isn’t eager to abandon the kitchen, which she describes as a stress relief and a second passion. This balance grounds her, ensuring that the bright lights of Ally Pally do not eclipse her life offstage.
Van Leuven’s participation serves as a beacon of hope for many transgender individuals and allies. Her historic World Championship debut is not just about representing herself—it symbolizes what’s possible for other trans athletes. Despite threats, discrimination, and a relentless spotlight on her identity, she is competing at the highest level of her sport.
The conversation about inclusivity, fairness, and integrity in sports will continue. While some insist on excluding trans women, the darts world, led by the PDC, has taken an important step toward embracing a more diverse and accepting future. By granting Van Leuven the right to compete, they’ve enabled her—and future trans players—to compete on an equal footing with any competitor.
The Bottom Line
Van Leuven is poised to create history as she aims her darts at the treble 20 and scans the board for finishing shots. Yet this isn’t just about one match; it’s about shifting perspectives. Over time, she hopes the chatter about who she is will fade, replaced by admiration for how brilliantly she plays.
For the transgender community and its allies, Van Leuven’s moment at Ally Pally will be watched with pride. Her journey demonstrates that despite facing obstacles, authenticity and perseverance can lead to opportunities. At a time when transgender representation is often challenged, Van Leuven’s appearance on the biggest stage in darts is proof that talent transcends outdated notions of who belongs in the spotlight.
It’s a message that will resonate long after the World Championship concludes: that progress is possible, that minds can change, and that skill and determination—not gender identity—should define an athlete’s legacy.
