Riley Gaines says Megan Rapinoe and Billie Jean King are ‘actively fighting for women to lose’

Riley Gaines has doubled down on her criticism of Megan Rapinoe, suggesting that both she and Billie Jean King are “now actively fighting for women to lose those opportunities” by supporting the participation of biological men in women’s sports.

Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer — who was attacked by trans activists last week — said on Tuesday that Rapinoe was a “fake feminist” and would “shake” a man who tried to usurp her position on a team.

While Gaines didn’t experience this exact situation, she had to compete against a transgender woman – formerly University of Pennsylvania men’s swimmer William Thomas, now known as Lia Thomas – who won the 2022 NCAA swimming title.

Gaines lashed out at both Rapinoe and King for being hypocrites and claiming they were fighting to lose women.

“The feminists you’d think would say something like Megan Rapinoe… and Billie Jean King, who pioneered Title IX and for women to have the opportunity to play at that level — I can tell you what they are saying,” Gaines told Outkick’s Dan Dakich The Don’t @ Me showabout trans women in sports.

“They are now both actively fighting for women to lose those opportunities. And just like you just said, it makes no sense. The double standard, the hypocrisy of it all.’

Title IX is a civil rights law that has historically protected the marginalization of women in sports since it was passed as part of the 1972 education amendments.

“No person in the United States shall be barred, on the basis of sex, from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in connection with any educational program or activity that receives financial assistance from the federal government,” Title reads. IX.

Both Rapinoe and King oppose HR 734, the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act. The bill was first proposed by the Republican congressman for FloridaGr Steube, is trying to make sure that biological men compete against each other, not against women – as was the case with transgender woman Lia Thomas, among others.

Rapinoe, along with several other female athletes, signed a letter sent Monday to House of Representatives lawmakers, according to SI.

“We believe that gender equality in sport is critically important, which is why we urge policymakers to focus their attention and efforts on the causes women athletes have been fighting for for decades, including equal pay, an end to abuse and assault, unequal implementation of Title IX, and a lack of access and equality for girls of color and girls with disabilities, to name a few,” the letter said.

“Megan Rapinoe spent years whining about not having equal pay and fighting to get it, and now she’s actively doing the opposite and hoping that women miss out on opportunities and can’t dream the same way she does,” Gaines continued .

‘All 40 [female] athletes who signed this petition and fight for the integration of men in women’s sports, none of them would have had the chance to achieve what they have achieved, to be in the same place they are today without the women’s sports category, without Title IX.

“These women don’t understand what’s at stake…why don’t we look at the implications for women? Why do we totally ignore our feelings, our safety, our privacy, our dignity and our honesty?’

Gaines called out the former USWNT star on Tuesday by citing Rapinoe’s March 8 post, which suggested the HR 734 disingenuously “claimed to “protect women’s sports” by pushing a ban on trans and intersex.”

Rapinoe’s stance on this is particularly intriguing given the rise of trans women like Thomas, who exemplify superior physical ability over that of biological women and the lack of biological women competing in men’s sports.

In 2015, Rapinoe was part of the then world champion USA Women’s National Team, which lost 5-2 to U15 MLS academy team, FC Dallas.

“What we know is how successful women’s sport has been despite discrimination, despite a lack of investment at every level compared to men.” Rapinoe said in 2021.

Similarly, King has previously described the challenges women face in the struggle to compete and exist in sports, as compared to men.

‘The fight for gender equality – in sport and beyond – continues’ said a 2022 SI article co-written by King. “Today, women and girls not only have fewer sports opportunities than boys and men, but high school girls also have fewer sports opportunities than boys did in 1972.”

Yet six months later, in December, King took a seemingly contradictory stance, saying, “Trans youth deserve to play and thrive,” on Twitter in response to the Federal Court of Appeals upholding Connecticut state policy that allows transgender people to participate in athletics based on their chosen identity.

“There is no place for discrimination of any kind in any sport,” King said in a 2020 Women’s Sport Foundation statement. “I am proud to support all transgender athletes who simply want the access and opportunity to take part in the sport they love.”

Despite her impassioned advocacy for women to compete against each other, Gaines doesn’t want transgender people to be incapable of athletic achievement.

‘Of course they have to be able to play sports, but it’s about where it’s fair and where it’s safe. I think that means competing with your biological sex, but even in some sports with a trans competition. I don’t know if it’s realistic, but it’s a way everyone can be embraced.’

President Joe Biden sparked controversy last week after his administration proposed a ruling that would ban schools and colleges across the US from transgender athletes from playing sports that align with their identity as opposed to their biological sex.

At least 20 states have so far introduced bans on transgender students participating in sports consistent with their gender identity, according to the AP — such measures would ultimately violate the Department of Education’s latest proposal, if approved.

If finalized, the proposal would be enshrined as a Title IX provision. However, it certainly faces a wave of challenges.

Despite being assaulted at San Francisco State University, Gaines is determined to fight for equality in women’s sports despite potential threats of physical assault.

“I’d take a right hook for Mike Tyson if it meant defending women’s and girls’ rights and spaces. It doesn’t scare me off,” she told Outkick on Wednesday. ‘I don’t want to be silent. It doesn’t make me want to hide. I’m at Liberty University last night. And tonight I’m going to James Madison University because I think it’s so important to talk to this demographic.

“People my age, people who belong to this younger generation, they are the ones who need to hear it clearly, as I saw in San Francisco. And so this doesn’t make me want to shut up and smile kindly and let men take over. It does the exact opposite.’