Washington Family Asks Supreme Court to Intervene in Wrestler's Case

A Washington family has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to grant an injunction after lower courts declined to prevent a teenage female wrestler from being matched against male athletes.

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) filed an emergency application with Justice Elena Kagan on behalf of the wrestler, identified only as K.M.K., and her mother, Stephanie Lynne Brown. The filing requests an injunction pending appeal in the case K.M.K. v. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). K.M.K. is Kallie Keeler, who has previously spoken about an alleged sexual assault by a transgender athlete during a match.

According to the application, Keeler was 15 years old when she competed for third place at the Lady Jag Kickoff, a girls' tournament, on Dec. 6, 2025. Keeler and her mother allege they were not informed that her opponent was male. During the match, they claim, the opponent penetrated Keeler. The family states that a coach from another team informed Keeler afterward that her opponent was male.

Following the incident, Brown requested assurances that her daughter would not have to compete against a male without penalty and sought notice if such a match were to occur. The district reportedly offered forfeiture if Keeler already knew her opponent was male and stated that gender-identity information would remain confidential.

"No girl should have to choose between playing the sports she loves and her safety," the application states. ADF is asking the Court to prevent officials from requiring Keeler to wrestle a male while the appeal is ongoing, or at least to mandate 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. The athlete and their family are not parties to the lawsuit.

A federal judge in Tacoma denied a preliminary injunction on Aug. 23. Subsequently, the Ninth Circuit denied an emergency injunction on Sept. 25, characterizing the request as a mandatory injunction and finding insufficient likelihood of success to justify relief before the wrestling season begins in mid-November. ADF argues that without an immediate order, Keeler risks losing the season that Title IX is intended to protect.

The filing references the Supreme Court's June 30 decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., which affirmed that states can restrict girls' sports teams to biological females, and the March parental-rights order in Mirabelli v. Bonta.

The U.S. Department of Education initiated a Title IX investigation into the school district in February. Two administrators from Rogers High School were later charged with failing to make a mandatory report. Prosecutors did not file charges against the opponent.

The district has previously declined to comment, citing student privacy and ongoing litigation. Representatives from the WIAA, the Puyallup School District, and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction were contacted for comment regarding the Supreme Court application. Keeler, who has wrestled since she was four years old, has not competed in a WIAA event since leaving the team in January and has expressed uncertainty about returning if she could again be paired against a male without prior notice.