Washington Family Seeks Supreme Court Intervention in Wrestling Case

A family in Washington has approached the U.S. Supreme Court after lower courts did not allow a teenage wrestler to compete this season unless matched against a male athlete. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has filed an emergency application with Justice Elena Kagan on behalf of K.M.K. and her mother, Stephanie Lynne Brown. This application requests an injunction pending appeal in the case of K.M.K. v. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).

The plaintiff, known only as K.M.K., is Kallie Keeler. She is a wrestler from the Puyallup area and has publicly spoken about an incident during a match where she alleges sexual assault by a trans athlete. Keeler has been involved in wrestling since age four and has been waiting to compete. She has not participated in a WIAA event since leaving the team in January and is uncertain about returning if paired against a male without notice.

No girl should have to choose between playing the sports she loves and her safety.

The application reveals that Keeler, at 15, wrestled for third place at the Lady Jag Kickoff on December 6, 2025. This girls’ tournament was held at Emerald Ridge High School. Keeler and her mother claim they were not informed her opponent was male. They allege the opponent penetrated her during the match. Later, a coach from another team informed her that her opponent was male.

Brown requested assurance her daughter would not face a male opponent without penalty and would receive notice for an opt-out option, but the district refused. Instead, it offered forfeiture if Keeler already knew the opponent’s gender. Gender identity information is kept confidential.

The defendants in this case are the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, and the Puyallup School District. The athlete involved and the athlete’s family are not parties to this case.

A federal judge in Tacoma denied a preliminary injunction on August 23. The Ninth Circuit also denied an emergency injunction on September 25, citing no strong likelihood of success to justify relief before the season. Wrestling in Washington starts in mid-November. ADF argues that without a current order, Keeler loses the season rights Title IX should protect.

The filing draws on the Supreme Court’s June 30 decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., allowing states to limit girls’ teams to biological females, and the Mirabelli v. Bonta parental-rights order from March.

The U.S. Department of Education began a Title IX investigation into the district in February. Later, two Rogers High School administrators faced charges for failing to file a mandatory report, although prosecutors did not charge the opponent.

The district has declined to comment on the matter due to student privacy concerns and ongoing litigation. OutKick sought comments from the WIAA, the Puyallup School District, and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the Supreme Court application.

Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covering critical political and cultural issues in sports from an investigative perspective. His reporting has been referenced in federal actions related to Title IX enforcement and featured in major media outlets.