Supreme Court Upholds State Bans on Transgender Athletes in Women's Sports

The Supreme Court ruled on June 30, 2026, that states may ban transgender athletes from participating in women's and girls' athletic teams, upholding laws from Idaho and West Virginia that restrict sports participation in public schools to an athlete's sex at birth. The court's majority stated that these bans do not violate Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in publicly funded schools. The decision was made with a 6-3 vote along ideological lines, overturning lower court rulings that argued the state laws discriminated against transgender individuals. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, affirmed that schools can determine eligibility for women's sports based on biological sex. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, with Sotomayor emphasizing the need for judicial restraint on such sensitive issues. Advocates for transgender rights criticized the ruling, claiming it will limit protections for transgender students. The NCAA reported that no more than 10 transgender women compete in college athletics. Former President Donald Trump expressed support for the ruling, calling it a significant victory for women's sports.