A transgender athlete, Becky Pepper-Jackson, who identifies as female, has been highlighted in the ongoing Supreme Court case regarding West Virginia's law that prohibits biological males from competing in women's sports. According to West Virginia Attorney General John B. McCuskey, Pepper-Jackson placed fourth in the Class AAA women's discus event and won the Class AAA state championship in women's shot put at the recent high school track championships. McCuskey's office submitted a letter to the Supreme Court detailing these performances, which contradict previous claims made by Pepper-Jackson's lawyers about her performance being subpar in girls' events.
The case, titled West Virginia v. B.P.J., will determine if the state's Save Women’s Sports Act violates the equal protection clause or Title IX. The letter from McCuskey's office stated that Pepper-Jackson outperformed the nearest competitor in shot put by over 5%. Solicitor General Michael Williams emphasized that Pepper-Jackson is not finishing near the back of the pack but is instead competing successfully against female athletes.
In prior court filings, Pepper-Jackson's lawyers had claimed that she often finished near the back in middle school cross-country events, although they acknowledged improvements in field events. During oral arguments, the Supreme Court justices discussed the biological advantages men may have over women in sports and the potential effects of hormone treatments on these advantages. The Court is expected to issue a ruling on this case and another similar case by the end of June 2026.