Stephen A. Smith Backs Riley Gaines in Opposing Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports

Stephen A. Smith has made no secret in recent months that he wants to expand his media platform into politically charged territory — not unlike the model popularized by Joe Rogan. And on Wednesday, that ambition was clearly on display as former collegiate swimmer turned conservative activist Riley Gaines joined The Stephen A. Smith Show for a pointed conversation about transgender athletes in women’s sports.

Gaines, a former All-American swimmer at the University of Kentucky, rose to national prominence after tying with transgender athlete Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania at the 2022 NCAA Division I Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships.

Since then, she has become a vocal advocate for restricting transgender women from competing in female athletic divisions, arguing that it compromises fairness and safety for biological women.

Over the weekend, Gaines made headlines again after reacting to Champlin Park High School’s victory in the Minnesota state softball championship. Her criticism centered on the team’s dominant pitcher, Marissa Rothenberger, a transgender athlete born male. Gaines claimed Rothenberger’s participation tilted the competitive balance and violated Title IX protections — an assertion that ignited fierce debate online.

Among those who pushed back was Olympic gymnastics icon Simone Biles. Biles took to social media to accuse Gaines of targeting and “bullying” transgender athletes rather than proposing thoughtful, inclusive alternatives. “Why not advocate for trans athletes to have their own space, instead of tearing them down?” Biles asked. That critique set the stage for Wednesday’s heated discussion.

Appearing on Smith’s show, Gaines stood firm in her criticism of Rothenberger’s role in the state tournament.

“In Minnesota, this individual — a biological male — pitched five consecutive games, totaling 35 innings and allowing just two runs,” Gaines explained. “That included 21 shutout innings. It wasn’t just impressive, it was dominant. Their team hadn’t even reached the state tournament before. Now they’ve won the whole thing — led by an athlete who, in my view, had an unfair advantage. And to be clear, this isn’t just about rules at the state level. This violates federal law. Title IX was created to protect opportunities for women and girls. What we’re seeing now is the erosion of that.”

Gaines added that her personal experiences competing against Lia Thomas gave her firsthand insight into what she views as a growing crisis in women’s sports.

As she elaborated, Smith jumped in — not to challenge her, but to double down on his agreement.

“Let me make this clear,” Smith said. “I’m liberal in a lot of ways. I believe in live and let live. But on this issue — I agree with you 1,000 percent. Transgender athletes should compete against other transgender athletes. Period. This isn’t hate. This is about fairness. Women should compete against women. Men should compete against men. Trans athletes should compete in a separate category. And I don’t understand why that’s such a controversial position.”

Smith emphasized that while he supports the LGBTQ+ community and believes in equal rights, he draws a firm line when it comes to the integrity of competition in women’s sports.

“I’m not afraid to say it,” he added. “And I never have been. This is about logic, not hate.”

The segment marked a rare moment of full-throated support for Gaines’ views in mainstream sports media, where her stance has drawn significant criticism. Journalists like USA Today’s Nancy Armour and former ESPN commentator Jemele Hill have sided publicly with Biles, calling out what they describe as Gaines’ harmful rhetoric and lack of empathy.

But on Smith’s platform, the tone was different. He not only validated Gaines’ concerns but appeared to welcome her perspective with an openness that has become increasingly rare in the polarized landscape of sports commentary.

As Gaines wrapped up her appearance, she reiterated that her activism is not about animosity toward transgender individuals — but about protecting the integrity of women’s athletics.

“The issue isn’t going away,” she said. “And neither am I.”