US women Olympians respond to Supreme Court women’s sports ruling
Former NCAA Swimmer Paula Scanlan reacts to Supreme Court’s transgender sports decision
Former NCAA Swimmer Paula Scanlan reacted to the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold transgender sports bans, expressing both relief and a call for more legislative action across the country. Scanlan highlights the physical disparities seen in cases like Lia Thomas’s and advocates for universal protections in all 50 states to ensure fairness and safety in women’s sports for future generations of female athletes.
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The U.S. Supreme Court handed a historic victory to the “Save Women’s Sports” movement on Tuesday, upholding state laws banning biological males from competing with girls and women in a 6-3 decision.
The decision was greeted with celebrations by female sports activists, including many well-known Olympic athletes.
Leah O’Brien-Amico, three-time softball gold medalist for the USA
Softball player Leah O’Brien-Amico poses for a portrait during the USOC Media Summit at the Marriott Marquis on May 15, 2004 in New York, NY. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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“Today’s Supreme Court decision is a victory for every girl who dreams of competing at the highest level,” O’Brien-Amico told Fox News Digital.
“As a three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to compete on equal terms with other biological women. The integrity and safety of women’s sports must be protected in every way. We can continue to find ways to honor the dignity of every person while preserving the spaces that generations of women have worked so hard to build.”
MyKayla Skinner, US gymnast silver medalist at Tokyo 2020
Mykayla Skinner and Simone Biles of Team USA pose for a photo during Women’s Podium Practice ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Ariake Gymnastics Center in Tokyo, Japan on July 22, 2021. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
“People on the far left… I hope they wake up and realize how many girls are affected by this. It’s a real thing, and I think sometimes it blows their minds and they don’t see what’s happening to girls,” Skinner told Fox News Digital.
Kaillie Humphries of the United States carries the U.S. flag after competing to win the bronze medal in the bobsled women’s monobob heat 4 at the Cortina Sliding Center during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 16, 2026. (Marco BERTORELLO / AFP)
“Women’s sports changed my life, giving me opportunities and a career I couldn’t get anywhere else. I’m able to do what I love because people fight to create and preserve a space for biological women. The women’s category was created so biological women could compete on a level playing field,” Humphries told Fox News Digital.
“Today is a victory for generations of girls who will step onto the field, the court, the athletics track. Now we can all Dream Big knowing that we are safe and have a fair environment to compete in any sport at any level. This is a huge win for women’s sports in this country.”
Nancy Hogshead, three-time Olympic gold medalist U.S. swimmer
Jenna Johnson, Nancy Hogshead, Carrie Steinseifer and Dara Torres of the USA celebrate winning the women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games at Olympic Swimming Stadium. (Porter Binks-USA TODAY NETWORK)
Hogshead told Fox News Digital: “Today’s decision is a step in the right direction for women’s equality and safety in sports! However, it doesn’t go as far as the UK Supreme Court; it doesn’t define the meaning of ‘gender’ in law. Allowing 27 states to create boundaries around women’s sports categories should breathe a sigh of relief to sports governing bodies; they don’t need to worry about hugely expensive litigation draining their resources.”
“But Sports can’t have a state-by-state network of laws. Even age-group and Little League athletes travel across state lines. Moreover, will sports governing bodies award national competitions to states like California that don’t protect women? In short, Democrats aren’t done with this issue that affects elections, power, and everything else on their agenda.”
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Donna de Varona, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer from the United States
President Ronald Reagan addressing the Women’s Sports Foundation with Donna De Varona (blue dress). (Getty Images)
“Today’s Supreme Court decision supports the important role biology plays in the lives of all women. Protecting girls’ and women’s spaces is fair, just and humane,” de Varona told Fox News Digital.
Martina Navratilova, women’s tennis legend and U.S. Olympian at Athens 2004
Czech-American former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova during a joint press conference with Chris Evert of the United States on Day 5 of the Cancun 2023 GNP Seguros WTA Finals of the Hologic WTA Tour in Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico on November 2, 2023. (Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The Supreme Court made the right decision today, allowing 27 states to continue officially protecting girls’ and women’s sports. Democratic politicians and blue states need to wake up to the biological reality of the female gender,” Navratilova said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital by Hogshead. he said.
Katie Uhlaender, American skeleton athlete, five-time Olympic champion
Team USA’s Katie Uhlaender poses for a portrait during Team USA Beijing 2022 Olympic filming on September 12, 2021 in Irvine, California. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Team USA)
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“Today’s Supreme Court decision is inspiring because it recognizes that protecting women as a biological class is not discrimination. It confirms that fairness matters, authenticity matters, and women should not have to apologize for wanting fair and safe competition. Without fairness, there is no sport,” Uhlaender told Fox News Digital.
“I was recently told by a respected academic and clinician that accepting biological sex is discriminatory. They referred me to reputable organizations like the American Psychological Association, and I was shocked to find misleading information on this subject. The APA has argued that the role of testosterone in enhancing athletic performance has not been proven. The causal effects of testosterone on human physiology have been understood for decades. To suggest otherwise paints an inaccurate picture of science to the public. Things like this have made it incredibly difficult for women to advocate for justice.”
