Washington Family Seeks Supreme Court Intervention Over Wrestling Match Controversy

A family from Washington is seeking the U.S. Supreme Court’s involvement after lower courts ruled against their request for a teenage wrestler to compete without being matched against male athletes. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) submitted an emergency request to Justice Elena Kagan on behalf of K.M.K., identified as Kallie Keeler, and her mother, Stephanie Lynne Brown. The filing calls for an injunction pending appeal in the case K.M.K. v. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

Kallie Keeler, a wrestler from the Puyallup area, has openly discussed her experience of allegedly being sexually assaulted by a transgender athlete during a match. Keeler has been wrestling since age four. She left her team in January and has not participated in a WIAA event since, unsure of returning if possibly matched against male athletes without prior notice.

Family Files Lawsuit Alleging Sexual Assault by Trans Athlete During Competition

In the application, Brown explains that in December 2025, Keeler, then 15, wrestled for third place at the Lady Jag Kickoff, a girls’ tournament at Emerald Ridge High School. Brown and Keeler allege they were unaware of her opponent’s gender identity. After the match, a coach from another team informed them that her opponent was male. They claim the district denied Brown’s request to ensure Keeler wouldn’t face male opponents without penalty or prior notification, offering instead forfeiture if Keeler already knew an opponent was male.

The application insists, “No girl should have to choose between playing the sports she loves and her safety,” and asks the Court to prevent officials from forcing Keeler to compete against male athletes during the appeal, or at least require advance notice and a no-penalty opt-out option.

The lawsuit names the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, and the Puyallup School District as defendants, though not the athlete or the athlete’s family.

In August, a federal judge in Tacoma rejected a preliminary injunction, and the Ninth Circuit denied an emergency injunction in September, classifying the request as a mandatory injunction without sufficient likelihood of success before the season. Wrestling in Washington is set to begin in mid-November. ADF argues that without immediate action, Keeler will miss a season protected by Title IX.

The appeal references the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., allowing states to limit girls’ teams to biological females, and the parental-rights order in Mirabelli v. Bonta.

In February, the U.S. Department of Education launched a Title IX investigation into the district. Two administrators at Rogers High School were later accused of failing to file a mandatory report, but prosecutors did not charge the opponent involved.

The district has previously refrained from commenting, citing student privacy and ongoing litigation. Attempts were made to seek comments from the WIAA, the Puyallup School District, and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the Supreme Court application.

Jackson Thompson, a Fox News Digital sports reporter, covers significant political and cultural issues in sports with an investigative focus. His work has been acknowledged in federal government actions tied to Title IX enforcement and featured in prominent media outlets, including The New York Times and ESPN.com.