Girls Fight Back, Sue Minnesota as Male Athletes Dominate Their Sports

Female athletes in Minnesota have filed a federal lawsuit challenging state rules that permit male athletes identifying as female to compete in girls’ sports, citing safety concerns and violations of Title IX.

The lawsuit, filed by the group Female Athletes United (FAU), names Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero, High School League Executive Director Erich Martens, Education Commissioner Willie Jett, and three school districts.

Minnesota female athletes challenge state policy forcing them to compete against males.

“By sacrificing protection for female athletes, Minnesota fails to offer girls equal treatment and opportunity, violating Title IX’s provisions. Our client, Female Athletes United, is right… pic.twitter.com/J6onAoS5wP

— Alliance Defending Freedom (@ADFLegal) May 22, 2025

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The plaintiffs include several high school athletes who allege they were injured or disadvantaged by competing against male athletes on public school girls’ teams.

The suit claims violations of Title IX for failing to provide “effective accommodation to the interests and abilities of female athletes” and “equal treatment, benefits, and opportunities.”

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FAU is seeking an injunction to stop male athletes from competing in girls’ sports and to correct athletic records affected by male participation.

Three of the plaintiffs play softball, and two of them also play basketball.

Farmington High School student “E.P.”, identified by initials in the lawsuit, said she experienced intense pain after being hit by a pitch thrown by a male player.

The lawsuit states, “The speed and strength of the pitch made the pain more intense than she has felt when getting hit other times.”

E.P. is expected to face the same male athlete again in this year’s state tournament.

According to the filing, the male athlete’s team recently defeated the defending state champions.

Plaintiffs E.P. and “M.S.” say they feel discouraged, believing they have little chance of success at the state level.

Another athlete, “E.G.,” said her team lost both regular season and sectional games against the male athlete’s team, which kept them from advancing to the state tournament.

The male pitcher threw “seven shutout innings” in one of the games and is expected to compete against E.G.’s team again over the next two years.

The plaintiffs object to playing what they call “unsafe and unfair” games, arguing that male athletes hold physiological advantages in pitching, hitting, and running.

The lawsuit also cites a “reasonable fear” of injury due to male strength differences.

The legal action follows FAU’s prior win in a case challenging the Biden-Harris administration’s reinterpretation of Title IX to include gender identity.

A federal court blocked the regulation from applying to FAU members in federally funded schools nationwide.

Two of the administration’s appeals court nominees were involved in rulings that halted the regulation ahead of the 2024 election.

The issue extends beyond Minnesota. The Minnesota Supreme Court is hearing a separate case involving USA Powerlifting, which excludes athletes who experienced male puberty from competing in female divisions.

The policy is being challenged by a transgender athlete who transitioned after puberty and seeks to compete in the women’s category.

In Washington state, the Quilcene School Board passed a resolution restricting athletic participation to athletes of the same sex as assigned at birth.

The board cited Title IX in their decision. The resolution contradicts policies from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association and the state superintendent’s office.

Legal counsel warned the school board of potential litigation.

The ACLU of Washington issued a warning letter accusing Quilcene’s policy of being “harmful” and “likely unlawful,” signaling possible legal action.

The letter references a 2024 study by The Trevor Project published in Nature Human Behaviour, which claimed that state laws restricting transgender participation increased suicide attempts.

Critics, including science journalist Jesse Singal, questioned the study’s validity and accused researchers of misrepresenting findings.

Public figures have also spoken out. NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers criticized the trend of males competing in women’s sports during an interview with Joe Rogan, describing it as “anti-woman.”

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley echoed those concerns, stating, “Anyone who believes men can compete against women in sports is stupid. I don’t even think that’s controversial.”

As legal and public pressure intensifies, the debate over transgender participation in girls’ sports continues to escalate across states and federal courts.

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