Riley Gaines praises girls who refused to compete with trans athlete as WV takes law to Supreme Court

Former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey discuss their fight to protect fairness in women’s sports.

Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer with the Kentucky Wildcats who has been a staunch supporter for fairness in women’s sports, praised a group of middle school girls who refused to compete against a transgender athlete last week.

Gaines appeared on Fox News Channel’s "America Reports" along with West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey after the official announced he will fight the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling to strike down the state’s "Save Women’s Sports Act."

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Riley Gaines testifies during a House subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill, Dec. 5, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Bridgeport, West Virginia, middle-schoolers stepped into the circle for the shot put and discus competitions and then stepped out in protest of the transgender athlete who was competing against them, according to OutKick

"I could not be more proud of these girls," Gaines, an OutKick contributor who hosts the "Gaines for Girls" podcast told Sandra Smith. "Again, 13, 14 years old, they’re in middle school yet they’re the ones who are forced to be the adults in the room to advocate for their own rights to quality opportunity, safety and privacy which were once ensured by Title IX, but now, of course, are under threat, and which were once ensured by the law here in West Virginia. But now, with the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, it’s all under threat, which sets a terrible precedent.

"Could not be more proud, could not be more inspired, by these girls. Ultimately, that’s what revitalizes me. It reminds me of what we’re