Riley Gaines Says She Will Take NCAA Transgender Athlete Case to Supreme Court

Women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines says she will appeal her lawsuit against the NCAA over its transgender athlete policies after a federal judge in Georgia dismissed the case, with the ultimate goal of putting the dispute before the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge Tiffany R. Johnson of the Northern District of Georgia, who was appointed by President Biden, dismissed Gaines’ lawsuit on Monday. Johnson ruled that Gaines could not sue the NCAA for violating federal Title IX rules because the organization does not directly receive federal funding and is therefore not subject to the law’s regulations.

The judge also rejected the argument that the NCAA is indirectly bound by Title IX because its member schools accept federal education funds and are themselves subject to the law.

“Here, there is no evidence that the NCAA ever received, or could have received, federal funds,” Johnson wrote. “Thus, Plaintiffs’ Title IX claims cannot proceed.”

Gaines responded on X to a post from Fox News reporter Jackson Thompson about the dismissal, questioning the ruling’s implications for oversight of college sports.

“If the NCAA isn’t subject to Title IX, then WHO is? Of course, we will appeal. The goal from the beginning was to get this case before the Supreme Court.”

In a separate statement issued Monday, Gaines said the ruling would not stop her or other female athletes from pursuing the case.

“Rest assured, we will be appealing this decision. We are on the side of truth. I am confident Americans will rally to our side to fight the NCAA. Working together, we will defeat the NCAA’s continuing efforts to trample women’s rights in sports.”

Gaines has previously criticized the NCAA over its response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in February 2025 aimed at protecting women’s sports from transgender athletes, arguing the organization’s rewritten rules did not go far enough.

“This policy is just about as clear as mud, and very, very much still allows men to compete on women’s teams and to receive women’s benefits,” Gaines said at the time.