Key Highlights
- The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that USA Powerlifting discriminated against a biological male transgender athlete by not allowing them to compete in the women’s division.
- The court’s decision was unanimous, reversing part of a lower court’s ruling and sending back part of the case for further determination on “legitimate business purpose.”
- USA Powerlifting argued that allowing transgender women to compete would put other women at a disadvantage due to biological advantages.
- The decision has sparked controversy among political figures, with Republicans condemning it as a threat to fairness and safety in women’s sports.
Background on the Case
In 2018, JayCee Cooper, a transgender athlete who identifies as female, applied to compete in USA Powerlifting’s women’s division. However, their application was rejected based on the organization’s then-existing policy of excluding transgender women from competing in women’s events.
Legal Battle and Court Rulings
Cooper filed a lawsuit against USA Powerlifting in 2021, alleging discriminatory practices under Minnesota’s Human Rights Act. After an initial ruling by the lower court in favor of Cooper, the case was sent back to the trial court due to “genuine issues of fact” regarding the organization’s motives and whether it had a legitimate business reason for excluding Cooper.
Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling
The Minnesota Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on October 17, 2025, ruled that USA Powerlifting discriminated against Cooper. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson wrote in the opinion: “USA Powerlifting’s facially discriminatory policy provides direct evidence of discriminatory motive. There is no genuine issue of material fact as to whether Cooper’s transgender status actually motivated USA Powerlifting’s decision.” However, the court also sent part of the case back for further determination on whether USA Powerlifting has a legitimate business purpose for excluding Cooper.
USA Powerlifting’s Position
In response to the ruling, USA Powerlifting President Larry Maile stated: “Our goal at USAPL is to create rules and a framework that uphold the principles of fair play, not to exclude anyone. To support trans athletes, USAPL created an open MX division in 2021 to serve all gender identities, including transgender and nonbinary members.” Maile added: “Since science shows those who were born biologically male have a profound physical advantage over female-born athletes, our responsibility is to define legitimate categories to fairly place athletes within them.”
Political and Social Reactions
The decision has drawn mixed reactions. Minnesota Republicans condemned it as a threat to the safety and fairness of women’s sports. Lisa Demuth, the Republican House Speaker, issued a statement saying: “For decades, women and girls fought tirelessly for the rights guaranteed under Title IX.
Sadly, those hard-won protections have increasingly come under attack, and today’s decision marks another setback in the fight to protect girls’ sports.” However, supporters of transgender athletes view this as an important step towards equal rights.
The ruling sets a precedent that could impact policies across various sports organizations regarding transgender athlete participation. As the case proceeds, it is expected to generate further discussions and potential legal challenges on the balance between inclusivity and fairness in competitive athletics.
