A fresh and burning social media fight erupted between the former NCAA Riley Gaines and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, lighting a passionate debate about the inclusion of trans athletes in women’s sports. The question was triggered when Gaines criticized a high school softbol team for putting a male athlete in a girl’s competition, and Biles responded quickly with a blunt refuting who sent shockwaves through the sports community.

The initial disagreement: Gaines aims at the softball championship

The controversy began when the State Mennesota High School League announced Champplin Park as the 2025 AAAA State Softball Champion via X (previously Twitter). Gaines, known for his frank opinions about women’s sport, quickly repositioned the tweet with a comment:“Comments off LOL. Wait when your player Star is a boy.”

Gaines’s comment was directed to the high school star, a boy who participated in a girl’s competition. The tweet quickly gained traction, with supporters supporting their position that biological men should not be competing in women’s sport. However, his statement did not sit well with everyone, especially the Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles.

Simone Biles replies: “truly sick” and “painful loser”

Biles, who has been a vocal defender of inclusion and equal opportunities for all athletes, did not hesitate to respond to Gaines. In a burning post, Biles called Gaines “truly sick” and a “painful loser” for his position.“@Riley_gaines_ You are really sick, this whole campaign because you have lost a race. Loser direct painful.”Biles tweeted, accusing Gaines of being motivated by personal bitterness rather than a genuine concern with justice in the sport.

Biles’ statement did not stop there. She continued with a more pointed attack, suggesting that instead of condemning the inclusion of trans athletes, Gaines should focus on promoting inclusion:“You should be building the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make the sport inclusive or create a new avenue where trans feels safe in sports. Maybe a category of transgender in all sports !! But instead you intimidate them …”

Biles also added,“One thing for sure is that no one in sports is safe with you around !!!!!”These words caused a buzz in the world of sports, as the reputation of Biles as one of the most successful and decorated athletes in Olympic history was being used to defend a more inclusive approach to the participation of transgender people in sport.

Gaines Apart: “Men do not belong to women’s sports”

Gaines, never dodge the controversy, retaliated with a clear response that further amplified the tension between the two athletes.“This is really so disappointing,”Gaines Twittou.“It’s not my job or the work of any woman finding out how to include men in our spaces. You can raise men who steal championships in women’s sport with your platform. Men don’t belong to women’s sports and say it with my full chest.”

His answer reinforced his longtime position that biological men should not compete in women’s sports. Gaines made this question an essential part of his defense and platform, often expressing concerns about justice in competition and what she sees as the erasure of women’s achievements in sport.

Public reaction: a polarizing debate

As expected, the exchange between Gaines and Biles caused intense reactions of the world of sports and beyond.#StandAndWithrieyGainnese#SupportTimoneBilesTrended quickly on social media, with fans taking advantage of the increasingly polarized debate.

Some fans have come together behind Gaines, citing their concerns about justice in women’s sport and the need to protect opportunities for biological women.“It’s simple – if you are biologically masculine, you should not compete in women’s sport.”A supporter posted.

Others donated Biles, supporting their request for inclusion and emphasizing the importance of guaranteeing equal rights for transgender athletes.“Simone is right, we need to find ways to make sport inclusive for everyone. Trans athletes should not be marginalized.”Another fan commented.

Several prominent sports figures have evaluated the debate, with some agreeing with Gaines and others defending Biles’ position. Former tennis player Martina Navratilova, a longtime defender of equality in sports, expressed a different opinion, suggesting that the conversation should focus on finding ways to guarantee justice, and respect the rights of transgender athletes.

The broader impact: what does this mean for women’s sports

This last exchange between Gaines and Biles brought the issue of transgender athletes in female sports to the forefront once again. With increasing concerns about the competition court and the growing visibility of athletes such as Gaines and Biles, this debate is far from over.

For many, this question transcends sport – it is the values ​​of justice, inclusion and equality. Although both sides of the debate make convincing arguments, it is clear that a resolution that satisfies everyone can be difficult to achieve.

The impact of this conversation extends beyond WNBA and in all professional sports alloys, and is shaping as future generations of athletes, both cisgender and transgender, will experience competition. The result of this discourse will probably have lasting effects on the policies that govern sports participation in the coming years.

As the debate continues to unfold, one thing is certain: athletes like Riley Gaines and Simone Biles are preparing the scenario for the future of sport in a world where inclusion and justice are more important than ever.