Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador, former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines and West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey participate in a press conference ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court hearing arguments on the legality of state laws banning transgender athletes from female sports teams at public schools, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 12, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
(New York, New York) – In an interview with Sid Rosenberg on 77 WABC, former collegiate swimmer and conservative commentator Riley Gaines sharply criticized the ongoing legal and political debate over transgender participation in women’s sports, calling it a fight over “the bare minimum” of fairness and biological reality.
Gaines discussed a case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, explaining that the central issue is not whether states must protect women’s sports, but whether they are constitutionally allowed to pass such protections at all. She pointed to recent oral arguments in which attorneys and medical experts declined to clearly define terms such as sex, male, and female. Gaines said that inability, in her view, undermines credibility and public trust, particularly when the debate centers on biology and athletic competition.
The former University of Kentucky swimmer also revisited her experience competing against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, describing it as part of a broader pattern she says is repeatedly seen in women’s sports. Gaines argued that biological advantages matter and that allowing biological males to compete in female categories creates uneven playing fields. She contrasted that with the rarity of women switching to men’s divisions and dominating, calling the difference “obvious” to most Americans.
Beyond athletics, Gaines addressed the personal consequences of her advocacy, telling Rosenberg she has received frequent threats that have at times extended to her family. She said those concerns recently influenced heightened security measures while attending Supreme Court proceedings, including precautions involving her infant daughter. Gaines stressed that intimidation would not deter her from continuing to speak publicly.
Gaines, who now hosts programming with OutKick, said she plans to remain outspoken on the issue, framing the debate as one rooted in fairness, safety, and long-standing biological distinctions. “This isn’t radical,” she said. “It’s common sense.”
Riley Gaines and the Fight for Fair Play (10 min) | 01-15-26
