U.S. Supreme Court Hears Trans Athlete Case: What Does That Mean For Tennessee?

 

Demonstrators gather outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments on a landmark case over transgender athletes in school athletics on Jan. 13, 2026 (USA TODAY/Jack Gruber)

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether states are able to ban transgender girls from competing in female sports. Tennessee is one of 27 states whose law could be affected by the court’s decision.

 

What is the law in Tennessee?

Tennessee has a variety of legislation that addresses transgender individuals in school sports. In 2021, the state passed a law that requires public school students to compete in the correct gender categories as aligned with their sex. This requirement has since been extended to apply to athletics in private schools as well as higher education institutions. Tennessee has also taken steps to improve this legislation’s enforceability through creating mechanisms to withhold funds from K-12 school districts that allow trans athletes to participate in girls’ sports.

What is being argued in the Supreme Court cases?

The two cases brought before the Court, Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J, look at claims of sex discrimination in the context of having fair competition in female athletics. The cases cite violations of rights under the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX as the basis of their arguments, claiming that the two transgender girls bringing the suits should be allowed to play on girls’ teams.

How has the Supreme Court decided on trans issues in the past?

Last June, the court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors. Additionally, they have allowed the Trump administration to move forward in banning transgender individuals from the military and preventing individuals from choosing their own sex on their passport documents. 

What does this mean for Tennessee? 

Based on the arguments heard on Tuesday, it seems likely that the Supreme Court will allow the bans on participation of trans athletes in girls’ sports to stand. In this case, the Tennessee legislation will remain intact and lawmakers will be given a greenlight to further legislate over trans issues. If not, Tennessee will be facing a set of legal challenges surrounding the legislation that could potentially upend policy that has governed Tennessee for almost a half-decade.