Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer, went on social media and called out a high school softball team from Minnesota. That team had a transgender girl, Marissa Rothenberger, pitching for them — and they won the state championship. Riley didn’t hold back. She basically said it wasn’t fair, calling Marissa “a boy” and saying the game wasn’t a level playing field.
That’s when Simone Biles jumped in. She’s not someone who usually gets into this kind of stuff online, but she was clearly upset. She called Riley’s post “truly sick” and even said Riley sounded like a “sore loser.” Simone made it clear she supports trans athletes and believes sports should be inclusive. She also threw out the idea of maybe having a separate division for trans athletes to make things more fair, which got a lot of mixed reactions.
It got pretty intense, and honestly, people are still talking about it all over Twitter and Instagram.
It's Not Just About Them — It's a Bigger Issue
This isn’t the first time this topic has caused a stir, and it probably won’t be the last. A lot of folks are torn on how to handle transgender athletes in competitive sports. On one side, people like Riley feel like it’s not fair for cisgender women (that’s women who were assigned female at birth) to compete against trans women, especially in high-level sports. They think it could impact scholarships, records, and opportunities.
Then you’ve got people like Simone who believe everyone deserves a shot — no matter who they are. She pointed out how this kind of hate can affect mental health and says we need to make space for trans athletes instead of pushing them out. It’s not an easy conversation, and you can really feel that people are divided.
Both of them, in their own ways, are trying to protect something they care about — whether that’s fairness or inclusion. But it’s clear that there’s no simple answer here.
Social Media Reaction and Public Opinion
Simone Biles just attacked Riley Gaines as "truly sick" for not being "inclusive" and letting men play in women's sports.
— Danielle D'Souza Gill (@danielledsouzag) June 7, 2025
Simone even told Riley to “bully someone your own size… a male.”@Riley_Gaines_ is a hero.
I stand with Riley. pic.twitter.com/ybx048nTG0
Once this debate hit the internet, the reactions were fast and fiery. Some people praised Biles for standing up for what she believes in, saying it’s important to hear voices like hers supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Others took Riley’s side, saying she’s being brave for speaking out on something they feel gets ignored.
There were also people caught in the middle — folks who feel like both sides have valid points and just want a solution that’s fair for everyone. Some even brought up the idea that maybe it’s time sports have more categories or rethink how competition works altogether.
But the biggest takeaway? This isn’t just an argument between two athletes. It’s a bigger issue that a lot of people are trying to figure out. And as more athletes speak up, the conversation keeps growing.
