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Riley Gaines delivered a poignant message to Democrats who have supported transgender athletes against efforts to protect girls’ and women’s sports as major Supreme Court cases loom.
Gaines, host of the OutKick podcast and former NCAA star swimmer who fought to keep men out of girls’ and women’s sports, appeared on PK Press Club Channel’s “Faulkner Focus” and suggested that those who oppose the “Save Women’s Sports” movement are doing a disservice to girls, like her daughter.
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Riley Gaines speaks at the 10X Ladies Conference hosted by Elena Cardone at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa on August 15, 2025 in Aventura, Florida. (Ivan Apfel/Getty Images)
“In the last three months now, my perspective on everything has changed. The things that you thought you’d never worry about, they seem critical,” Gaines said. “Things that at one time you cared about very deeply seem mundane. I’ll tell you, my daughter…she’ll be here with me tomorrow on the steps of the Supreme Court because that’s what we’re fighting for.
“So all these Democrats who think they’re giving President Trump the finger by taking the opposite side of this issue, that’s not who you’re giving the finger to. You’re giving my 3-month-old daughter the finger and honestly even talking about that would bring tears to my eyes. That’s what I’m fighting for.”
Supreme Court justices will hear arguments Tuesday in Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. BPJ.
Idaho and West Virginia are among about 30 states with laws banning transgender students who identify as women from competing on women’s sports teams sponsored by public schools and colleges. In 2020 and 2021, trans plaintiff athletes successfully challenged laws in Idaho and West Virginia, respectively, to allow their participation on women’s and women’s sports teams.
Both trans athletes are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Riley Gaines signs copies of her book in front of the Fiserv Forum during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Wednesday, July 17, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
ATHLETES, COACHES, LEGISLATORS AND OFFICIALS WHO CHOSE A SIDE IN SCOTUS WOMEN’S SPORTS BATTLE
The justices will consider whether the landmark federal law, Title IX prohibiting sex discrimination in education, applies in these inclusion cases.
Idaho in 2020 became the first state to enact such restrictions with the Women’s Sports Equity Act.
Both sides in the legal dispute have accused the other of peddling false and misleading facts, terminology and narratives about the application of state laws and issues for transgender and cisgender athletes.
States with such laws, and the groups and lawmakers who support them, say the issue is one of common sense and student safety.
Lawyers will tell the high court that there are inherent physical differences between women and men, and that these legislative acts would ensure that what they call “male” or “boy” students cannot compete on women’s sports teams involving competitive skills or contact.
But supporters of LGBTQ+ rights say these laws and labels are clearly discriminatory and were never a major problem until some states sought to politicize them.
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In July, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the states’ separate appeals and is expected to issue final, binding decisions on the merits by the end of June.
