Female Athletes United sued Minnesota officials and three school district boards, alleging that allowing the student, identified as Jane Doe, to compete deprived the organization's female members of equal opportunity and effective accommodation under Title IX. The plaintiffs cited injuries including reduced performance, lost awards, lower visibility to recruiters, emotional distress, and physical pain.
The League adopted Bylaw 300.00(3) in 2016, mandating that member schools allow transgender students to participate based on gender identity. Jane Doe, a high school senior who has identified as a transgender girl since age ten, captained the varsity girls' softball team to a state championship in the 2025 season.
The dispute intensified after President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing the Secretary of Education to prioritize Title IX enforcement against institutions that require female students to compete against males. The Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into the League, while Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued an opinion stating that prohibiting transgender athletes would violate the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
Female Athletes United moved for a preliminary injunction to prevent male athletes from competing against its members in contact sports. The district court denied the motion, concluding that Title IX does not supply a private right of action for the plaintiffs' disparate-impact claims and that the organization failed to meet the requirements for injunctive relief.
The Eighth Circuit agreed with the district court's primary reasoning. The panel held that because Female Athletes United lacks a private right of action to bring Title IX claims, it cannot seek the proposed injunction. The court affirmed the denial on this ground.