Lawyers for a girl who claimed she was sexually assaulted by a trans wrestler responded to Washington officials in a SCOTUS appeal

A Washington high school wrestler is asking the Supreme Court for protection before the wrestling season after being accused of sexually assaulting a transgender opponent.

ADF attorney talks SCOTUS petition for female wrestler allegedly assaulted by trans athlete.

A Washington high school wrestler's Supreme Court fight could help push restrictions on transgender athletes in girls' sports to 23 states.

A Washington high school wrestler who claims he was sexually assaulted by a transgender opponent during a girls' match is asking the Supreme Court to intervene before the start of his next season, and his lawyers are fighting back after the defendants tried to write off his alleged injury as "fabricated."

In the Oct. 15 filing, her attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom accused the three defendants, the Puyallup School District, the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, of shifting responsibility for providing those supports.

Attorneys for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) wrote in an Oct. 15 response in support of Kali Keeler's daughter and her mother, Stephanie Brown: "The defendants' case studies mostly point the finger at each other and try to avoid harm."

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Rejecting the argument that the withdrawal would adequately address the family's concerns, the lawyers added: "Eviction is not housing. This is harm, and Brown and K.M.K. are now suffering from it."

Keeler, identified in court as K.M.K., claims she was sexually assaulted by a transsexual during a girls' wrestling match in December 2025. Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges. His family is seeking protection against being matched with male opponents while the lawsuit continues.

Washington State girls wrestler Kali Keeler (Liberty Defenders Alliance)

The response follows opposing reports from the Puyallup School District, the Office of the Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

Challenging the alleged emergency and the likelihood of future harm, the state argued, “the ``irreparable'' nature of petitioners' alleged harm has been established. Instead of describing the alleged attack as a hoax, the statement justified the court's immediate intervention.

The district said Brown could skip the tournament without district penalties. It also cited advocacy efforts, expedited school transitions and the ongoing independent investigation into Title IX. Defendants raised concerns about their authority to control contests, contest rules, and the privacy of other students.

ADF responded that the defendants collectively control the eligibility, participation and rules of the contest.

The reply reads: “The defenders each deny full power, but in so doing ignore that together they have it all.

Lawyers also challenged the suggestion that the family should wait for the normal appeals process. The district appeals to respond, based on the opposition and the WIAA's calendar, the brief is Nov. 19, three days after wrestling practice begins. ADF said the extension was granted over the family's objection.

Along with the Title IX request, ADF specified an alternative accommodation based on parental rights: authorities would remove Keeler, or notify her mother so she could retrieve him, when they knew or had reason to know the adversary was male.

Under that proposal, Keeler would receive treatment comparable to the most expedient allowed under the law, such as medical forfeiture. In a tournament, his opponent could advance while remaining in the applicable consolation bracket.

Washington State girls wrestler Kali Keeler (Liberty Defenders Alliance)

ADF wrote: His opponent improves and he remains in the tournament.

District courts and the Ninth Circuit have previously denied temporary relief. The Supreme Court application remained pending on Friday, with the registry listing the family's response but no ruling.

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