Recently, Riley Gaines expressed her views on an important Minnesota House of Representatives session where high school volleyball player Ainsley Erzen emphasized the significance of safeguarding women’s sports. Erzen highlighted the necessity of maintaining fair competition by ensuring that women’s sports teams remain limited to biological women.
Erzen’s testimony correlates with House File 12 (HF12), a bill introduced during the 2025-2026 legislative session aimed at restricting participation in female sports teams to those who are biologically female. Lawmakers reviewed the bill during a session in the Education Policy Committee on February 19, 2025.
The discussion surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports has intensified in Minnesota, particularly after an incident where Hope Walz, the daughter of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, criticized an executive order from former President Donald Trump that prohibited transgender women from competing in women’s sports, deeming it a ‘dangerous precedent’.
A powerful video of Ainsley Erzen’s testimony was shared on X/Twitter on February 20, 2025, with accompanying captions that highlighted key moments from her speech.
“MUST WATCH: Ainsley, a Minnesota volleyball athlete, testifies before the Minnesota House of Representatives on protecting women’s sports. WOW.”
Riley Gaines echoed this sentiment by re-sharing the video on her social media account, praising Erzen’s courage:
“Incredibly brave young girl who has the guts to say what most grown men won’t say even still. Kudos.”
Riley Gaines Challenges Gender-Based Sports Categories Amid Ongoing NCAA Lawsuit
In March 2024, Riley Gaines reiterated her strong commitment to maintaining separate sports categories for men and women. She contended that allowing transgender women to compete in women’s sports undermines the very purpose of having gender-based divisions.
Gaines argues that this issue transcends just physically demanding sports; she is adamant that all competitions designated for women should exclusively include biological females. Currently, she is one of 16 athletes who have filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, disputing its policy that permits transgender women to participate in female sporting events. This lawsuit claims that such rules violate Title IX, a federal law ensuring equal opportunities in education and sports for both genders.
Reflecting on her stance, Gaines stated:
“Men shouldn’t be in women’s categories in chess, pool, or any sport. Why even have a women’s category if men can play wherever they want?” (thepinknews.com)
Gaines has been a vocal advocate on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports ever since a significant controversy arose in 2022. At the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships, she tied for fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle event with Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania. Despite the tie, the officials awarded the trophy to Thomas, and Gaines was informed that her trophy would be sent to her later.
