Idaho and West Virginia’s protections for female sports will get Supreme Court hearing
The Supreme Court voted today to accept a case concerning whether states can protect female sports from domination by male athletes.
Both Idaho and West Virginia prohibit men from competing in girls’ sports. However, circuit court rulings have stopped enforcement of those laws.
According to SCOTUSBlog, the Court will address this question: “Whether laws that seek to protect women’s and girls’ sports by limiting participation to women and girls based on sex violate the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.”
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey thanked the Supreme Court for taking up the state’s case.
“I am pleased that the Supreme Court is taking up West Virginia V. B.P.J., a case I worked tirelessly on as Attorney General,” Governor Patrick Morrisey stated in a news release. “I am optimistic that after hearing the case, the Supreme Court will restore sanity to athletics and allow West Virginia to enforce its commonsense law that prevents boys from competing in girl’s sports.”
“This is huge,” Riley Gaines wrote in response.
The former University of Kentucky swimmer is an advocate for protecting female sports. “Finally, girls’ voices are being heard,” Gaines wrote on X.
? BREAKING: The Supreme Court will hear a case on whether states can ban men from competing in girls’ sports.
This is huge. Finally, girls’ voices are being heard.https://t.co/ME2J6MlB8u
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) July 3, 2025
I knew this would end at the Supreme Court https://t.co/my7KwVBVXu
— Paula Scanlan (@PaulaYScanlan) July 3, 2025
The decision to take up the case follows on the June 18 ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti which affirmed that states do not violate the Equal Protection Clause when they prohibit gender-confused minors from taking transgender drugs or having permanent transgender surgeries, such as breast removal.
The Trump administration has sought to enforce Title IX’s protections for women’s sports. Recently, it announced a settlement with the University of Pennsylvania.
In exchange for a release of federal funds, the university announced it would no longer let men use the girls’ bathrooms and locker rooms. Furthermore, it would apologize for letting William “Lia” Thomas compete on the women’s swim team, despite being a man.
It also stripped Thomas of several school records he had obtained while swimming on the women’s team.
Paula Scanlan, who swam with Thomas, also praised the Supreme Court for taking up the case. “I knew this would end at the Supreme Court,” she wrote on X.
“It’s happening,” Townhall commentator Dustin Grage wrote. “And we are winning.”
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IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: The Supreme Court of the United States; Fred Schilling/Supreme Court