Rec Sports
Rising star on the court
By Kaylee Dusang, Contributing Writer
Fourteen-year-old Jaxson Franks is already making his mark in the basketball world.
This summer, Franks was invited to join four different basketball leagues, including an AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) team in Waco and two Gatesville ISD varsity leagues. Along with joining the four teams, Franks was also nominated for the second year in a row to play in the Texas Boys Basketball All-State Game at Dallas College in June.
Having played basketball since second grade, Franks developed a passion for the sport early on.
“It doesn’t really require much. You just go out there and try your hardest to play good,” Franks said. “But, if you don’t, you have your teammates to support you.”
Franks recently made the team for the Waco Warriors, one of AAU’s competitive leagues that travel to matches across the state. This is his second year playing in an AAU league, one of the largest organizations for youth sports in the world. Last year, he played on the Focus Scholars out of Killeen.
Franks plays for Gatesville Junior High’s basketball team, and plans to join the school’s varsity team next year. For the summer, he was invited by his coaches to play Varsity Hot Hoops and Varsity Spring League through Gatesville High School.
“I’ve coached Jaxson in basketball for four or five years. He’s a very complete player,” said Gatesville Junior High basketball coach, Thomas Winkler. “He has good ball handling skills, a good shot and a score inside. He’s also very good on the defensive end. Jaxson is also a great teammate and an unselfish player. Kids love to play with him.”
Jennifer Hall, Franks’ mom, said he also joined an adult community league in Killeen after filling in for a family friend who was injured. When he joined as a sub, they invited him to come back and play for the team.
“He’s always outside practicing,” Hall said. “Kids will be inside playing video games, and he’s outside playing basketball, which is his passion. He loves it.”
The All-State Game is a nationwide organization that gives junior high students a chance to compete and hone their skills alongside other top athletes in their age group. They also allow players to meet and make connections with professional athletes and other top coaches in the state.
Last year, Franks placed second place with his team at the Texas Boys Basketball All-State Game.
“It felt like everything else I do,” Franks said. “Go out there, compete, do your hardest, whatever happens, happens. Leave it all on the floor.”
Hall said he was chosen for the All-State Game again this year during the first round of nominations, and they are currently seeking sponsorships so he can attend the event.
“I am just very proud of him,” Hall said. “I can’t even really put it into words – just watching the way everybody raves about him when he’s on the court and how good he does.”
While playing on the Focus Scholars, Franks’ team walked away with winning rings when they won a game during the finals. He has also received several other awards in basketball from playing on city and school teams.
Although Franks plays other sports, basketball is his priority.
“I play football, and then I do track, but basketball is my favorite sport for sure,” he said.
Heading into high school next year, Franks said his goal is to play for a university team once he graduates. Then, he is set on making it to the NBA.
Out of all the professional basketball players, he said he admires Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry because of his shooting abilities and kindness to others.
“He is good even when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands,” Franks said. “He is his own person and doesn’t just follow what’s popular.”
Hall said she is proud of her son’s hard work, but especially his humility and heart for others.
“He’s done it all himself,” Hall said. “He 100% loves it, and he’s strived and tried hard and worked hard for every single bit of challenge that he has.”
While Franks spends plenty of time practicing his skills on the court, he values the experience of playing on a team sport and owes his success to his teammates.
“It’s a team sport, and you share the floor with your team,” Franks said. “And I’m proud to be part of the team.”
Rec Sports
For Better or Worse, Shifting Attitudes Are Fueling Kids’ Pay-For-Play Travel Sports Clubs 01/13/2026
Early next month, I will attend my first Little League World Congress. I’m looking forward to it for a number of reasons, both professional and personal. Re the latter, I’ve
actively volunteered at the local and district level for some 20 years. From a professional level, as a sports researcher, I’ve seen firsthand a shifting emphasis toward select club travel
teams that’s both concerning and intriguing, given many of the consumer trends I track.
Locally based recreational leagues fill an important societal role by offering inclusive opportunities
for social and athletic development. While I value the championship banners that my teams won over the years, I also value the opportunity to help kids learn critical life lessons.
I’ve been moved to visit with several of my former players, now young adults who appreciate the positivity that sports participation delivered.
But in today’s world, more youth
athletes participate in pay-for-play club and travel programs, which promise and often deliver more specialized instruction, higher levels of competition, and a chance to travel and play in modern,
shiny new complexes. Of course these programs fuel the often-exaggerated expectations that junior will move on to play at the next level.
advertisement
advertisement
A Washington Post story published last
week detailed soaring prices that have grown family spending on these programs to an estimated $40 billion per year, with the average family spending $1,000 to $3,000 annually for the privilege.
I’ve personally seen that model as well, though the Little Leagues in our district charge 10% less than that, with abundant scholarships and hardship programs available.
It’s not
surprising to see the growth in pay-for-play programs in a world that highly values super-sized experiences for a coddled generation.
Last month in this space, I identified experiences as one
of the Four Es: essential components of leisure marketing. Club travel teams deliver experiences in ways that grass-roots programs often lack. They also satisfy the “E” that we
defined as eagerness. Players are often vaulted into trips to mega complexes modeled on those where the pros play, without having to advance their way through several more localized tournament
stages.
Recall that two-thirds of sports fans strongly agreed that their life philosophy is more about living for today than tomorrow. “Making” a club team can be a
surrogate for being an “instant winner,” even if that isn’t always the case.
And the “elite” positioning of club teams plays into the E that we labeled
entitlement, which is transcending generations as society actualizes on an admitted selfishness and sense that people have earned immediate rewards for enduring challenging times.
It’s
not difficult to see how these prevalent attitudes are helping to fuel the growth in pay-for-play sports clubs. What’s less clear to me is the net impact on the youth sports landscape.
Rec Sports
P.I. [Euro] Pulse: France

In the latest edition of ‘P.I. Pulse’, Pro Insight’s Florian Kurth brings you the inside scoop on the latest happenings within the European basketball landscape. This new column, ‘P.I. [Euro] Pulse,’ is dedicated to highlighting the noteworthy performances of emerging talent across the continent of Europe:
In this recurring series, Florian Kurth will be calling attention to the standout performances (and even some of the underwhelming ones) — pointing out what’s truly worth your time on Synergy or other video platforms. The goal is to keep you up to date with the most relevant developments in each national scouting scene.
As we are actively working with a bevy of professional organizations and college programs, we won’t dive too deep into the specifics here — after all, providing that level of detail would devalue the quality and exclusivity of our clients. Instead, consider this series a curated overview of key trends and performances worth monitoring.
After our look into Germany’s youth basketball landscape, we are turning our attention to some up-and-comers who are currently playing in France for various domestic teams and academies. In recent years, France’s basketball scene has developed into THE most productive talent pool in Europe, with numerous players making the leap from the domestic Betclic Élite to the NBA, EuroLeague, or even U.S. colleges, thereby strengthening the global visibility of French basketball. In particular, French youth programs and training centers, like INSEP, are constantly promoting elite players, which is reflected in a growing number of young French players in the NBA draft lottery, in leading roles in the EuroLeague, and increasingly in the NCAA. At the same time, strategic media and league professionalization, as well as increasing club budgets, are leading to more intense competition and greater international appeal for the national league.
No. 1 Talent Hotbed Outside the U.S.
Whether it is the domestic Betclic Élite or the farmteam Espoirs league, France stays attractive for prospects to develop and showcase themselves on a quality European level. Today there are several Betclic Élite alumni playing in the NBA: Victor Wembanyama (formerly Metropolitans 92), Mohamed Diawara (Cholet), Noah Penda ( Le Mans), Bilal Coulibaly ( Metropolitans 92) and Zaccharie Risacher ( JL Bourg) to name just a handful. Every one of these benefited from teams and coaches who placed their trust in young players early on, while the players themselves naturally had some compelling arguments for getting plenty of playing time early.
The French Pipeline’s Wide-Ranging Impact
There are also structures such as the state-run INSEP academy, which has produced generations of top players and are considered important pillars of French basketball’s success. At least one visit during the season is part of the routine for every scout who observes the French market for NBA teams or NCAA schools.
However, there are also players who have moved up to higher levels within Europe after a good season in France: Clement Frisch (formerly Nancy), Brice Dessert (Strasbourg) and Theo Maledon (ASVEL). The conditions in France for continuing to develop individually while preparing for the next step therefore seem to be in place.
Of course one key part is missing. The NCAA route through the leagues of France. You need names. Here we go: Santa Clara’s Noah Badibanga (formerly Chalon), Grand Canyon’s Evan Boisdur (Gravelines), Murray State’s Roman Domon (Gravelines), Dayton’s Amaël L’Etang (Cholet), Iowa State’s Killyan Toure (ASVEL), and many more. I could name in total 68 players, who came to the NCAA through the French (youth) leagues. No European country counts more at this point.
With a large number of French professionals playing in the NBA and the top European leagues—coupled with global draft participation—momentum continues to build, which in turn inspires new talent. Accordingly, it’s a no-brainer to look at some of the current developments in France and shine a light on its next generation.
Klark Riethauser (2027 – 6’7.5” Forward)
Chalon @ Le Mans 71-78 (Espoirs Élite)
31P-8R-5A-3TO in 32:44 MP
Chalon vs. Nanterre 54-70 (Espoirs Élite)
10P-6R-1A-5TO in 30:32 MP
(+) Athleticism and physical tools
(+) Lateral agility and switchability on D
Summary: The next big prospect out of Switzerland is a real one. His length, speed and leaping ability is at an NBA level, while his tactical understanding and execution speed needs to develop.
Nanterre @ Nancy 91-84 (Betclic Élite)
16P-6R-0A-0TO in 25:54 MP
Nanterre @ Bourg-en-Bresse 83-86 (Betclic Élite)
(+) Pro-ready physicality at 17 years old (!)
(+) Defensive versatility
(+) Off-ball prowess as a cutter and C&S threat
Summary: First pro season for HYM, and it is a typical rookie season for a prospect of his caliber. It’s clear that he won’t be playing at this level for long, but his performance still fluctuates enormously. The last few weeks have definitely been moving in a positive direction, again being one of the key contributors to Nanterres Ws vs. Paris and Nancy. Projection as a HM prospect hasn’t changed.
Blois vs. Evreux 103-84 (Elite 2)
15P-2R-0A-2TO in 21:20 MP
Blois @ Aix-Maurienne 88-69 (Elite 2)
(-) 1v1 perimeter defense
Summary: In his first pro season, JB plays a good role for Blois and brings legit value to their frontcourt. Offensively, he fills in as a stretch 4 and operates a lot from the high post. The defensive performance fluctuates and should be his priority to work on in the latter half of the season.
Cholet vs. Bursaspor 109-77 (BCL)
11P-1R-4A-0TO in 17:26 MP
Cholet vs. Monaco 72-95 (Betclic Élite)
(+) BBIQ and decision making
(-) Range shooting consistency
Summary: The season ATN has played so far is remarkable for a 16-year-old. Due to his mentality it was obvious that he would acclimate to the pro level quickly. Nevertheless, his physical disadvantages are quickly becoming apparent in both Betclic Élite and, above all, the Champions League. The question remains as to how much higher the youngster can go, given that he is unlikely to grow any taller, let alone drastically improve his athleticism. Regardless, he has a long career ahead of him at a solid European level.
Pôle France vs. Lorient 77-82 (NM1)*
Pôle France @ Levallois MBC 63-100 (NM1)*
*NM1 games are not on Synergy, but broadcast live on FFBB YT channel
(-) Consistency from 3-point range
(-) Propensity to gamble on D
Summary: By far the #1 French prospect from the 2009 generation. Big time NBA prospect. Projects to bring everything a modern forward needs to be productive at the highest level. Get familiar with this name.
Nanterre vs. Lyon-Villeurbanne 85-72 (Espoirs)
18P-15R-1A-1BL in 36:41 MP
Nanterre vs. Le Mans 64-80 (Betclic Élite)
5P-4R-2TO-5FLS in 24:44 MP
(+) Lateral agility (esp. for his size)
(-) Turnover and foul-prone
(-) Inconsistency as a finisher
Summary: The late-blooming big from Montmorency, France brings good size (+WS and huge hands) and athleticism (laterally and vertically), but has limited scoring ability. He plays exclusively for the Espoirs squad of Nanterre. Value on D is tremendous and his unique selling point, while his offensive game is work in progress.
Le Mans vs. Chalon 91-84 (Espoirs)
15P-9R-2A-1TO in 28:23 MP
Le Mans vs. Bourg-en-Bresse 91-84 (Espoirs)
(+) Smooth, clean shooting mechanics
Summary: Penda has seemingly plenty of upside left. The younger brother of ORL forward Noah will get more playing time on the pro team in the second half of the season. He is an athletic/long wing, who excels via cutting and spot-up shooting. The defensive versatility is clear, while lacking upper body strength and real skill for the pro level at this point.
Messi Yangala (2028 – 6’8” 4-5 man)
Pole France @ Rennes 88-82 (NM1)
Pole France vs. Les Sables D’Olonne 59-91 (NM1)
(+) Strength and physicality in the paint
(+) High motor and rim running
(-) Must learn to take his foot off the gas here and there
(-) Tactical / positional understanding within half court offense
Summary: Since Mahop, Soliman, and Elouma are currently taking on most of the responsibilities on the Pole France squad, Messy sits in the shadows and shines when he gets the chance. This is perfectly fine considering his age. The youngster has NBA upside and is already showing glimpses of what he is capable of achieving long term. What stands out most is his enormous commitment and desire to really make a difference on the court. He is a versatile but unpolished power forward who is also used as a small-ball big from time to time. He fills both roles well.
Additional Names to Follow
Mohammad Amini, Adam Atamna, Dimitri Azema, Soren Bracq, Kenny Courset, Sacha Defoundoux, Nateo Gabriel Des Bordes, Gangy Diallo, Maidy Douglas, Taig Nonga Drieux, Christopher Ebunangombe, Achille Elouma, Mouhamed Faye, Ilane Fibleuil, Marc-Owen Fodzo-Dada, Bastien Grasshoff, Isaac Guedegbe, Theo Guedegbe, Messi Iwani, Liam Kabeya, Maxence Lemoine, Louka Letailleur, Matthys Mahop, Killian Malwaya, Yael Masdieu-Reynaert, Brandon Muela, Ilian Moungalla, Akram Naji, Sven Ngom, Hugo Nguyen, Paul Nnanga, Antoine Pansa, Yohan Pomier, Mohamed Sankhe, Talhis Soulhac, Ilian Toholin, Alassane Traore, Jahel Trefle, Keny Vado, Romain Valakou, Gabriel Veras, Marvyn Wade, Oscar Wembanyama

Rec Sports
Youth Sports Academies Open for the 2025 Season
The San Pedro Town Council Sports Department hosted a sign-up session for its four youth sports academies, football, basketball, softball, and track and field, on Saturday, January 10th, at Central Park. The registration drive ran from 9AM to noon and attracted families eager to enroll their children ages 6 to 13.
Parents and children visited information booths to learn more about each academy, with promotional materials highlighting benefits such as teamwork, discipline, confidence-building, and life skills. Adaly Ayuso, who holds the sports portfolio, and Sports Coordinator Ada Cordova were on hand to provide details on training schedules, costs, and equipment packages.
The registration marked the launch of structured programs divided into three ten-week phases, each followed by a three-week break. Phase one focuses on building fundamentals, phase two emphasizes competition, and phase three addresses skill refinement and identifies weaknesses.
The football academy is scheduled to begin on February 7th at the Ambergris Stadium and will be held on Saturdays. Training sessions will run from 8AM to 9AM for under-7 and under-9 categories, and from 9AM to 10AM for under-11 and under-13 players. The cost is $85, which includes two jersey sets, a training kit, and hydration. The second phase of the football program will feature the Kids Mundialito tournament.
The basketball academy will begin on February 9th and will take place on Mondays from 4PM to 5PM at Boca del Rio Park. The participation fee is $35 and includes a training kit. The softball academy begins on February 6th, with training held on Fridays at 4PM, priced at $30 and including a training kit. The track and field academy started on January 12th and is held on Mondays and Tuesdays from 4PM to 5PM. The registration fee is $15 and includes a training kit.
The initiative builds on the Town Council’s prior efforts to strengthen youth sports development, including academy programs and infrastructure improvements, such as the renovation of the Boca del Rio basketball court. Councilor Ayuso has also spearheaded several sporting events in recent years, including women’s football tournaments to increase youth participation.
“All these programs we do are to keep our kids and youths out of trouble and engaged,” Ayuso said. “They give them goals to work toward. Many tournament winners go on to compete outside of the island. These academies are designed to be family-oriented.”
The youth academies aim to enhance physical fitness and athletic skills, increase community engagement, and provide talented participants with opportunities to advance to national-level competitions. Additional tournaments and development phases are planned throughout 2026 as the Town Council continues to invest in San Pedro’s growing sports culture.
Rec Sports
More Orioles giveaways and promotions announced, questions for Birdland Caravan
Tickets for all regular-season games at Camden Yards and special ticket packages go on sale to the general public on Wednesday.
Just head over to Orioles.com/Tickets for more information and to make purchases.
The club also announced some additional promotions, including Tupac and Pete Alonso bobbleheads. Because you can’t think of one without the other.
Shakur lived in Baltimore from 1984–88 and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he studied acting, poetry, jazz and ballet.
The Orioles will distribute Tupac Bobbleheads to the first 15,000 fans prior to the Friday, May 8 game against the Athletics, and the Alonso Bobblehead to the first 15,000 fans prior to the Saturday, Aug. 22 game against the Rays.
The special ticket package offers can be accessed at Orioles.com/TicketPackages. A complete list of current promotions and special ticket packages, including some promotional item imagery and quantities, can be found online at Orioles.com/Promotions.
Here’s the list of new promotions, with some giveaways or experiences attached:
April 11: Bark at Oriole Park
April 12: Scouts Day (pregame parade)
April 14: Lacrosse Night (Lacrosse Pinnie)
April 15: Field Trip Day (pregame show)
April 24: HBCU& Divine Nine Night (Bucket Hat)
April 26: Youth Baseball & Softball Day (pregame parade)
April 28: Military Appreciation Night (Military Hat)
April 30: Field Trip Day (pregame show)
May 11: Healthcare Appreciation Night (Crewneck)
May 13: Japanese Heritage Night (Jersey)
May 22: Educator Appreciation Night (Windbreaker)
May 26: Jewish Heritage Night (Jersey)
May 27: Bark at Oriole Park
May 28: AAPI Night (Hat)
May 31: Youth Sports Day (pregame parade)
June 12: Union Night
June 30: Swim Night (Swim Cap)
June 30: Run Club Night (Running Hat)
June 30: Pickleball Night (Pickleball Paddle)
July 1: Day Camp Day
July 8: Women’s Night (Quarter Zip)
July 9: Christian Faith Night (postgame concert)
Aug. 6: Day Camp Day
Sept. 8: First Responders Night (Hat)
The club already shared more details about the Birdland Caravan that runs from Jan. 22-24 with stops in Baltimore, Bethesda, Ellicott City, Halethorpe, Linthicum Heights, Sykesville, White Marsh and a mystery Pop-Up Photo Op location in Prince George’s County.
The event provides a rare opportunity for the media to catch up with some players during the offseason. Information on access will become available within the next week.
We’ll always remember interviewing reliever Dillon Tate at the 2023 Caravan about his selection to the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic. He called it a “crazy feeling.”
More crazy was Tate already knowing that he had a right elbow flexor strain. He wasn’t pitching for Team USA. He didn’t pitch for the Orioles.
Knowing who’s participating this month, here are a few question ideas for anyone made available.
Manager Craig Albernaz
What does he think about the current roster since the last time we spoke to him? He’s got two new starters – well, one new and one returnee – with Shane Baz and Zach Eflin.
What kind of prep work has he done leading up to spring training and his first camp as a major league manager?
How has he been received by players, fans and anyone else with a pulse?
Anything relating to the rotation and lineup, despite how it’s too early to ask about anything relating to the rotation and lineup.
Albernaz also will be asked about his coaching staff.
First baseman Pete Alonso
Alonso already sat through a 45-minute press conference after signing his five-year, $155 million contract and nothing new has happened to him. But that was a month ago.
Has he found a place to live or is the move on hold?
What’s his usual offseason routine to get ready for spring training?
Any new thoughts on the roster and chances of playing in the World Series?
Has he talked to any new teammates?
Anything relating to his interaction with the public.
Anything relating to his bobblehead.
Hopefully, something a lot more interesting than these ideas.
Gunnar Henderson
His reaction to the Alonso signing and other moves made so far this offseason.
Playing for Team USA, and sharing shortstop with Bobby Witt Jr.
His big arbitration raise, the largest in team history for a first-timer.
Married life.
He’s probably going to be asked about the shoulder impingement from last season that he talked about last week on the “Orioles Hot Stove Show.”
How confident is Henderson that he can put up numbers closer to his 2024 season?
How does Henderson feel about the Albernaz hiring?
Has Henderson connected with new hitting coach Dustin Lind and assistant Brady North?
Any opinions on new infield coach Miguel Cairo?
Adley Rutschman
Can he get through the season without injuring an oblique, or anything else?
Like everyone else, he’s going to be asked about playing for a new manager, and he also can comment on the hitting coaches.
Rutschman also can talk about catching coach Joe Singley and having former major league catcher Hank Conger on the staff as bullpen coach. And having Albernaz, a standout defensive catcher in the minors.
What did Rutschman see from Samuel Basallo after the top prospect’s promotion in August?
Rutschman probably will be asked about catching Shane Baz, as well as Eflin’s return. Perhaps by Caravan time, the Orioles will have added another starter for Rutschman to comment on and later catch.
Jackson Holliday
What areas is he concentrating on during his offseason workouts?
How much of it is getting more comfortable at second base?
Having Alonso on the right side of the infield.
The importance of veteran leaders like Alonso and Taylor Ward in his development.
The same Cairo question.
I’ll focus on other confirmed participates later this week.
Rec Sports
Potomac Falls graduate Jalen Coker emerges as needed reliable No. 2 wide receiver for Bryce Young in Carolina | Sports
Rec Sports
US supreme court considers state bans on transgender athletes in school sports – live | US supreme court
US supreme court considers state bans on transgender athletes in school sports

Sam Levin
The US supreme court is considering the rights of transgender youth athletes on Tuesday in a major hearing on state laws banning trans girls from girls sports teams.
Oral arguments center on two cases of trans students who sued over the Republican-backed laws in Idaho and West Virginia prohibiting them from participating in girls athletic programs. The cases could have far-reaching implications for civil rights, with a ruling against the athletes potentially eroding a range of protections for trans youth and LGBTQ+ people more broadly.
In West Virginia v BPJ, 15-year-old Becky Pepper-Jackson challenged the state’s 2021 law banning her from track. A federal court blocked the ban, but the state appealed to the supreme court.
In the second case, Little v Hecox, Lindsay Hecox, a trans college student pursuing track, sued to overturn Idaho’s first-in-the-nation 2020 law categorically banning trans women and girls from women’s sports teams. She has since pushed to have the case dismissed, saying she is not doing sports in college and doesn’t want further harassment, but the supreme court is still hearing the matter.
Twenty-seven states have now restricted trans youth access to school sports – most with laws targeting trans girls, but some applying to all trans youth. Defenders of the bans argue they are promoting fairness and safety in women’s sports, while trans rights advocates counter the laws are cruel and discriminatory, and that there’s no credible evidence inclusive sports policies have endangered cis girls and women.
We’ll bring you all the latest from inside and outside the court as we get it.
Key events
Block argued that Pepper-Jackson has no physiological / competitive advantage, given that she had been through female puberty.
The purpose of sex separation is to control for the sex-based differential that comes through puberty. By virtue of her medical care, BPJ has controlled for those sex-based advantages.
Joshua Block, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, is now arguing on behalf of Becky Pepper-Jackson.
Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether the court’s landmark 2020 finding that federal law protects transgender people from workplace discrimination also applies to women’s sports.
Roberts sided with the majority in that decision, but indicated that the reasoning might not apply in this case.
The question here is whether or not a sex-based classification is necessarily a transgender classification.
Trans youth athletes speak out: ‘Sports is my everything’
In the lead up to today’s oral arguments, we spoke with trans youth athletes and their families about the role of sports in their lives and the toll of exclusionary policies.
Here are clips from interviews with three students:
More from those conversations here:
Hashim Mooppan is now arguing for the Trump administration for the second time today, this time in support of West Virginia’s state law.
In his opening statement, Williams said:
The law is indifferent to gender identity because sports are indifferent to gender identity.
He also argued that transgender girls have inherent biological advantages, though Pepper-Jackson’s lawyers have said that she does not because of puberty-blocking medications.
The 15-year-old is the only known transgender student-athlete seeking to compete in the state.
Lex McMenamin
Outside the supreme court, the crowd on both sides has slowly started dissipating, particularly the anti-trans side, though speakers continue.
On the anti-trans side to the right, speakers can be heard arguing that gender is biologically constructed; much of the rhetoric is focused on calling trans women “men” and claiming they are “male athletes”.
To the left, a group of West Virginians who traveled by bus to DC are telling the crowd they stand with Becky Pepper-Jackson: “[US senator] Jim Justice doesn’t speak for West Virginia.”
In his opening remarks, West Virginia’s solicitor general Michael Williams said that the state legislature “reasonably and rationally defined sex based on biology and acknowledged the physical differences biology creates”.
He argued that this “preserves the enduring structure on which girls’ sports depends”.
Arguments in Idaho case end as court moves on to West Virginia challenge
The arguments in the first case have now ended, justices are now hearing arguments in a challenge to a West Virginia law by high school student Becky Pepper-Jackson (she was in middle school when the case began).
And conservative justice Amy Coney Barrett asked Harnett how she can argue that there is discrimination based on transgender status when anyone, including transgender boys, can play on boys’ sports teams under the Idaho law, meaning only trans girls are affected.
Hartnett said the court has not required the entire protected class to be excluded in other similar cases, and reiterated that her case focuses on a specific subgroup targeted by the law.
-
Rec Sports2 weeks agoFive Youth Sports Trends We’re Watching in 2026
-
Sports3 weeks agoKentucky VB adds an All-American honorable mention, loses Brooke Bultema to portal
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoBangShift.com IHRA Acquires Historic Memphis Motorsports Park In Millington Tennessee. Big Race Weekend’s Planned For 2026!
-
Sports2 weeks agoH.S. INDOOR TRACK & FIELD: GLOW region athletes face off at Nazareth University | Sports
-
NIL3 weeks ago
Fifty years after IU’s undefeated champs … a Rose Bowl
-
Sports3 weeks agoColorado volleyball poised to repeat success
-
Sports3 weeks ago2025 Volleyball Player of the Year: Witherow makes big impact on Central program | Nvdaily
-
Sports3 weeks agoTexas A&M volleyball’s sweep of Kentucky attracts record viewership
-
Motorsports3 weeks agoKyle Larson opens door to 24 Hours of Daytona comeback – Motorsport – Sports
-
NIL3 weeks agoNIL Funds Are at Top of Arizona State’s Christmas Wishlist





