Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the trailblazing Dutch darts player nicknamed ‘The Duchess’, has shared a candid and uplifting update on how the World Darts Federation’s (WDF) ban on transgender athletes in women’s competitions has reshaped her career—and surprisingly fueled her drive to succeed.
At 29, van Leuven made history as the first openly transgender competitor to shine at elite levels, claiming multiple PDC Women’s Series titles across recent seasons and representing her country internationally. But last July, the WDF introduced a policy—following a vote at the Europe Cup in Slovakia the year prior—that restricts women’s events to those defined as female under the new eligibility rules. Transgender players like van Leuven are now directed solely to open categories, where competitors of any gender face off equally.
The shift hit hard at first. “It was back in July when I knew about this new ruling coming up; they voted for it in the Europe Cup in Slovakia,” she reflected in a recent interview. “I knew it was coming but I didn’t know when or how. I didn’t even know when I was allowed to play anymore in the women’s game. I was like, what am I going to do with my career now? Am I just going to stick to the PDC or am I going to try other things? … When the ruling came out, I was like, at least it was clear now.”
That period of uncertainty left her pondering whether darts might no longer be viable long-term. Yet clarity brought resolve rather than retreat. Far from walking away, van Leuven has channeled the change into motivation. “It does motivate me to become a better player again,” she explained. “It is weird to not be able to play the women anymore in the WDF. But I can within the PDC. In the end, I am playing in the Dutch tournaments now in the open ranking and I quite enjoy myself in those. I actually want to give it a shot now to play in the open and maybe some WDF tournaments.”
Her unbreakable love for the sport has always pulled her back. After stepping away during her transition years following youth-level play, darts remained irresistible. “I just enjoy the game of darts too much. I keep coming back to it,” she said. “I played in the youth and then I took a few years off regarding my transition as well. Now I just can’t stay away from the game.”
The past year tested her resilience on multiple fronts. Limited tournament appearances, a needed mental health break before the PDC World Darts Championship, and persistent online abuse all took their toll. At Ally Pally in December, she suffered a 3-0 first-round defeat to two-time world champion Peter Wright. Still, she found silver linings. “I actually enjoyed myself on that stage playing Peter. He was really kind on the stage and behind it. I think the crowd was amazing as well. I didn’t really bring my A-game, but I didn’t play much darts last year.”
Now, she’s rebuilding momentum. She continues thriving on the PDC circuit, where eligibility rules differ and allow her participation in women’s events there. With steady improvement, her sights are set high: earning a full PDC Tour Card next year. “The last year has been rough. I have not played many games or tournaments. I played the women’s series and that was about it. This year I want to keep improving and I see my game improving again. Hopefully I can actually aim for a Tour Card next year,” she shared optimistically.
Adding to the positives, van Leuven recently earned selection for the Dutch national team once more—this time in the open category—for the upcoming Four Nations Cup, starting in just weeks. The milestone feels especially meaningful amid the regulatory upheaval. “Proud is honestly an understatement right now,” she declared on social media. “I’ve officially qualified again for the Dutch team, and this time in the open category. With all the new rules and changes this year, it definitely wasn’t a given… which makes this one feel even more special.”
She also spoke warmly about admired rivals, particularly the dominant Beau Greaves. “She is quite annoying with how she is playing right now,” van Leuven joked affectionately. “I enjoy playing games against Beau; she always brings the best out of me in games. Sometimes she beats me 4-0, but sometimes it is a really close game. I really enjoy playing her and seeing what she can do. I think it’s really great what she is doing on the ProTour right now.”
Van Leuven’s journey highlights the challenges transgender athletes face in maintaining inclusion and fairness debates in sports, yet her response underscores remarkable adaptability and passion. The WDF ban closed off one avenue, but it has opened others—pushing her toward open competitions, sharper focus, and ambitious goals. As she prepares for the Four Nations Cup and eyes bigger stages, ‘The Duchess’ demonstrates that true dedication to darts transcends setbacks. With skill, heart, and an unquenchable love for the game, her story continues to inspire, proving resilience can turn exclusion into extraordinary opportunity.