The U.S. Supreme Court is stepping into a heated debate that’s been dividing communities, schools, and states: should transgender girls and women be allowed to compete in girls’ and women’s sports? On July 3, 2025, the Court announced it will hear cases from West Virginia and Idaho, where laws banning transgender athletes from participating in female sports teams are being challenged. These cases, involving two transgender students, Becky Pepper-Jackson and Lindsay Hecox, could shape the future of transgender rights and school sports across the country.
The Cases: Becky and Lindsay’s Fight to Play
Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old from West Virginia, and Lindsay Hecox, a 24-year-old college student from Idaho, are at the heart of these cases. Both students challenged their states’ bans on transgender athletes competing in girls’ or women’s sports, arguing that the laws violate their rights. Becky, who takes puberty-blocking medication, and Lindsay, who has undergone testosterone suppression and estrogen treatments, won court orders allowing them to compete while their cases are being decided.
In West Virginia, the 2021 Save Women’s Sports Act defines gender based on “reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” barring transgender girls from girls’ sports at all levels, from middle school to college. Idaho’s 2020 Fairness in Women’s Sports Act similarly restricts female sports to those “of the female sex,” even requiring invasive health exams to verify a student’s biological sex if questioned. Both students argue these laws violate the 14th Amendment’s promise of equal protection under the law, and Becky’s case also claims a violation of Title IX, a federal law banning sex discrimination in education.
Lower courts sided with Becky and Lindsay. In West Virginia, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the state from enforcing its ban against Becky, saying it unfairly excluded her from sports and forced her into an impossible choice: play on boys’ teams, where she’d face physical disadvantages, or not play at all. In Idaho, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a similar ruling for Lindsay, noting that the state’s ban unfairly targets transgender girls regardless of their medical treatments or physical abilities.
The Bigger Picture: A National Debate
The issue of transgender athletes in sports has exploded in recent years. Over half of U.S. states have passed laws banning transgender girls and women from female sports teams, with Idaho being the first in 2020. These laws often argue that transgender girls, assigned male at birth, have physical advantages that make competition unfair for cisgender girls (those whose gender identity matches their birth sex). Supporters, like West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey and Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, call these laws “commonsense” measures to protect fairness in women’s sports. McCuskey stated, “The people of West Virginia know that it’s unfair to let male athletes compete against women,” while Labrador echoed, “Women and girls deserve an equal playing field.”
On the other side, advocates like Joshua Block from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argue that these bans are discriminatory and harmful. “Categorically excluding kids from school sports just because they are transgender will only make our schools less safe and more hurtful places for all youth,” Block said. He believes the lower courts were right to block these laws and vows to keep defending “the freedom of all kids to play.”
This debate isn’t just about sports—it’s tied to broader questions about transgender rights. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear these cases comes just weeks after it upheld a Tennessee law banning gender-affirming care for minors, a ruling that disappointed transgender rights advocates. That decision left many legal questions unanswered, and the upcoming cases could clarify how far states can go in restricting transgender students’ rights.
What’s at Stake?
The Supreme Court’s rulings, expected by June 2026, could have massive implications. If the Court upholds the state bans, it could solidify restrictions on transgender athletes nationwide, potentially affecting thousands of students. If it strikes them down, it might strengthen protections for transgender youth under the Constitution and Title IX. The cases also touch on Title IX’s broader meaning—does it protect transgender students from discrimination, as it did for LGBTQ employees in a 2020 Supreme Court ruling? That question remains unanswered.
The debate has also reached the federal level. In February 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports,” directing schools receiving federal funds to limit female sports to those assigned female at birth. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) followed suit, updating its policy to bar transgender women from women’s teams. Meanwhile, the Biden administration had proposed that blanket bans on transgender athletes might violate Title IX, though it allowed some restrictions for competitive sports. These shifting policies show how politically charged the issue has become.
The Human Side: Becky and Lindsay’s Stories
Becky and Lindsay’s experiences highlight the personal stakes. Becky, who began identifying as a girl at a young age, has been allowed to compete in cross-country, track, discus, and shot put, though she placed 67th out of 68 in a cross-country event and didn’t qualify for her school’s running teams. Lindsay, who plays soccer and runs, also failed to qualify for Boise State’s NCAA running teams but participates in club sports. Their supporters argue that excluding them from girls’ teams doesn’t just limit their opportunities—it isolates them and denies their identities.
Opponents of transgender participation often point to physical differences, like those outlined by a West Virginia judge who upheld the state’s ban, saying “biological males generally outperform females athletically.” Yet, the 9th Circuit noted that not all transgender women have a physiological advantage, especially after hormone therapy, as in Lindsay’s case.
Looking Ahead
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments later in 2025, the nation is watching. Protesters gathered outside the Court in December 2024, waving transgender and pride flags, showing how deeply this issue resonates. For Becky, Lindsay, and countless other transgender students, the outcome will determine whether they can chase their dreams on the field, track, or court—or be sidelined by laws that define them by their birth certificates.
This case isn’t just about sports; it’s about fairness, equality, and who gets to decide what those words mean. Whatever the Court decides, it will shape the lives of young athletes and the future of transgender rights in America.