“I was like, what am I going to do with my career now?”: Noa-Lynn van Leuven questioned her future after WDF decision

Noa-Lynn van Leuven has revealed she briefly questioned her future in darts after the World Darts Federation introduced a rule banning transgender players from competing in the women’s category.

The decision forced the Dutch star to rethink her career path, but “The Duchess” has since refocused and is now embracing new opportunities. With eligibility to compete in open events, she says the challenge has given her renewed motivation to improve her game.

Van Leuven had been aware of the impending change for some time. The ruling was voted through at the WDF Europe Cup last year, though uncertainty remained over when it would come into effect and what it would mean for her playing future.

She admitted that period left her unsure of her next move, as she weighed up whether to fully commit to events organised by the Professional Darts Corporation or explore alternative routes.

During the transition, she found herself in limbo — still able to compete in the women’s category for a time, but not yet eligible for open events — which only added to the confusion. Once the ruling was confirmed, however, she said the clarity allowed her to move forward.

Now regularly competing in open tournaments in the Netherlands, Van Leuven says she is enjoying the shift and sees it as a positive step in her development.

She remains active on the international stage as well, with a call-up to represent her country at the upcoming 4 Nations Cup, while also planning to explore more open competitions within WDF events.

Van Leuven also featured at the recent PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, where she was beaten 3–0 in the first round by two-time champion Peter Wright.

Her appearance came after a difficult spell that included a break from the sport to focus on her mental health, as well as dealing with significant online abuse.

Despite those challenges, she insists quitting was never truly an option, driven by her enduring passion for the game.

Although she has so far recorded just one win on a PDC stage, her ambitions remain high. After a limited schedule last year, she is determined to build momentum again and is targeting a PDC Tour Card in the near future.

Looking back on her World Championship experience, Van Leuven spoke positively about both the occasion and her opponent, praising Wright for his kindness on and off the stage and highlighting the support from the crowd despite the result.

On the PDC Women’s Series, Van Leuven has enjoyed notable success, collecting six titles across the past two seasons.

However, she acknowledged that Beau Greaves currently sets the benchmark in the women’s game, with an extraordinary unbeaten run stretching beyond 100 matches.

Van Leuven joked about Greaves’ dominance but admitted she relishes their encounters, saying the English star consistently brings out the best in her — even if the results don’t always fall her way. 🎯