Washington Family Appeals to Supreme Court Over Wrestling Match Dispute
A family from Washington has taken their case to the U.S. Supreme Court following lower court refusals to allow a teenage wrestler to compete this season without facing a male opponent. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) submitted an emergency application with Justice Elena Kagan representing K.M.K. and her mother, Stephanie Lynne Brown. The request seeks an injunction pending appeal in the case titled K.M.K. v. Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The wrestler, identified as K.M.K., is Kallie Keeler, a competitor from the Puyallup area, who has spoken out about an alleged sexual assault by a transgender athlete during a match.
Keeler, who has been wrestling since the age of four, greatly anticipated this season. However, she has not participated in a WIAA event since leaving the team in January. She is hesitant to return if she faces the possibility of competing against a male athlete without prior notice.
Allegations of Assault
The lawsuit claims Keeler was competing for third place at the Lady Jag Kickoff, a girls-only tournament, on December 6, 2025, when she faced a male opponent without being informed in advance. During this match at Emerald Ridge High School, the family alleges the male opponent penetrated her. A coach from another team later informed them the opponent was male.
When Brown requested assurances her daughter would not face a male opponent without penalties and explicit notice, the school district declined. They allowed forfeiture if Keeler recognized the opponent as male. The district insisted on maintaining confidentiality regarding gender identity.
The appeal states, “No girl should have to choose between playing the sports she loves and her safety.” The family requests the court to prevent Keeler from being forced to wrestle males during the appeal or, at minimum, provide notice and a no-penalty opt-out option.
Court and Legal Proceedings
Defendants in the case include the WIAA, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Superintendent Chris Reykdal, and the Puyallup School District. The male athlete and his family are not involved in the lawsuit.
A federal judge in Tacoma denied a preliminary injunction on August 23. The Ninth Circuit also rejected an emergency injunction on September 25, labeling the request a mandatory injunction, with insufficient success likelihood to warrant relief before the season starts in mid-November. ADF argues that without immediate intervention, Keeler will lose the season protections under Title IX.
The filing references the Supreme Court’s decision on June 30 in West Virginia v. B.P.J., which permits states to restrict girls’ sports teams to biological females, alongside Mirabelli v. Bonta, a parental-rights order from March.
Department of Education Investigation
In February, the U.S. Department of Education began a Title IX investigation into the school district. Following this, two administrators from Rogers High School faced charges for not making a mandatory report. Prosecutors have not charged the alleged assailant.
The school district has opted not to comment due to student privacy and ongoing litigation. OutKick sought responses from the WIAA, Puyallup School District, and the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction regarding the Supreme Court filing.
Jackson Thompson, a sports reporter for Fox News Digital, covers significant political and cultural sports issues, bringing an investigative perspective. His work has influenced federal Title IX enforcement actions and been cited in major news outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press, and ESPN.com.