Supreme Court Upholds State Authority Over Transgender Athlete Participation in Girls’ Sports
President Donald Trump praised a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allows states to determine eligibility rules for transgender athletes competing in girls’ and women’s sports, calling the ruling a “big win.”
In a 6-3 decision, the Court upheld laws from West Virginia and Idaho that restrict participation in female sports based on biological sex. Following the ruling, Trump celebrated on Truth Social, writing, “BIG WIN: The United States Supreme Court just RULED AGAINST MEN PLAYING IN WOMEN’S SPORTS.”
Writing for the majority, Justice Brett Kavanaugh stated that biological differences between males and females—including differences in strength, speed, endurance, height, and jumping ability—can affect both competitive fairness and athlete safety. The Court concluded that states may establish eligibility standards for women’s and girls’ sports under the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, while Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson also wrote separate opinions agreeing with portions of the judgment while disagreeing with others.
The cases were supported by the Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of the states, while the American Civil Liberties Union and Cooley LLP represented the transgender athletes challenging the laws.
The Idaho lawsuit involved Lindsay Hecox, a transgender woman who sought to compete on Boise State University’s women’s athletic teams. The West Virginia case centered on B.P.J., a transgender high school student who has publicly identified as female since childhood and has received puberty blockers and estrogen therapy.
The ruling comes after President Trump signed the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order in February 2025, directing federal agencies to enforce sex-based athletic policies. The order prompted legal disputes with several states, including Maine, over federal funding.
Supporters of the decision argue it protects fairness in women’s athletics, while opponents contend it limits opportunities for transgender students. The ruling leaves individual states with primary authority to regulate participation in school sports.
