Lawyers for girl alleging sexual assault by trans wrestler fire back at Washington officials in SCOTUS appeal

A Washington high school wrestler who alleges she was sexually assaulted by a transgender opponent during a girls match is asking the to intervene before her next season begins, and her attorneys are firing back after the defendants tried to write off her claimed harm as "manufactured."

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

"Defendants briefs mostly point the finger at each other, trying to pass the buck for the harm inflicted," Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) attorneys wrote in an Oct. 15 reply supporting the girl, Kallie Keeler and her mother, Stephanie Brown.

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"Exit isnt accommodation. Its the injury, and Brown and K.M.K. are suffering it now," the attorneys added, rejecting the argument that withdrawing from competition adequately addresses the familys concerns.

Keeler, identified in court as K.M.K., alleges a transgender opponent sexually assaulted her during a girls wrestling match in December 2025. Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges. Her family is seeking protection against being matched with male opponents while its lawsuit proceeds.

The reply follows opposition briefs from the Puyallup School District, Washingtons Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association.

"The irreparable nature of Applicants claimed harm is manufactured," the state argued, challenging the asserted emergency and likelihood of future injury. The statement addressed the justification for immediate court intervention, rather than characterizing the alleged assault as fabricated.

The district said Brown could decline matches without district-imposed penalties. It also cited supportive measures, an expedited school transfer and an ongoing independent Title IX investigation. The defendants raised concerns about their authority to control matchups, competition rules and other students privacy.

ADF countered that the defendants collectively control eligibility, participation and competition rules.

"Defendants each disclaim full power, but in so doing, they ignore that together they hold it all," the reply states.

The attorneys also challenged the suggestion that the family should await the ordinary appeals process. The districts appellate answering brief is due Nov. 19, three days after wrestling practices begin, according to its opposition and WIAAs calendar. ADF said the extension was granted over the familys objection.

Alongside its Title IX request, ADF outlined an alternative accommodation based on parental rights: Officials would withdraw Keeler, or notify her mother so she could withdraw her, when they know or have reason to know an opponent is male.

Under that proposal, Keeler would receive treatment comparable to the most favorably treated forfeiture allowed by the rules, such as a medical forfeiture. In a tournament, her opponent could advance while she continued in the applicable consolation bracket.

"Her opponent advances, and she stays in the tournament," ADF wrote.

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