Owensboro native Lainey Armistead is now a named party in a case heading to the U.S. Supreme Court, one that could set a national precedent for how women’s sports are defined and protected.
The 2019 Daviess County High School graduate and former collegiate soccer player at West Virginia State University has intervened in West Virginia v. B.P.J., a case that centers around a 2021 state law regulating participation in girls’ and women’s sports based on biological sex.
The law — often referred to as the “Save Women’s Sports Act” — bars transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the middle school, high school, and college levels in West Virginia. It has been challenged in federal court on the grounds that it violates Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. According to the Associated Press, the law was initially blocked, then reinstated by an appeals court, and is now being reviewed by the nation’s highest court.
Armistead, who now holds a law degree and is studying for the bar, intervened in the case while still a student-athlete. Her goal, she said, was to share the perspective of female athletes who believe the law provides necessary protections for fair competition.
“I decided to intervene because I wanted to ensure the law was upheld,” Armistead said. “This is about restoring fairness and equality to women’s sports. We’ve had Title IX for over 50 years, and women deserve an equal playing field.”
Her attorney, Suzanne Beecher, legal counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, said Armistead joined the case during her junior year at West Virginia State.
“She wanted to bring the perspective of the female athlete into the case, and she’s done a tremendous job sharing her story,” Beecher said.
Armistead said her passion for sports and fairness was shaped early in life. Born in Owensboro, she said she grew up playing soccer on nearly every local field — from Yellow Creek Park to the SportsTutor training center.
“My dad was a boys’ soccer coach at Daviess County High School. Soccer is in our blood,” she said. “Playing the sport helped me earn a full scholarship, and I know how life-changing that opportunity was — especially for girls in Kentucky who may not otherwise afford college.”
She recalled moments from her childhood competing against her older brother, noting that the physical differences between them were clear even at a young age.
“I didn’t want him to be better than me, but it was obvious he was stronger,” Armistead said. “It’s just reality. So when I heard about girls losing scholarships or placements in competition, I knew I had to speak up.”
Beecher said the case is expected to be argued before the Supreme Court later this year or in early 2026, with a ruling anticipated by June 2026.
The legal question in West Virginia v. B.P.J. involves whether the state’s law violates federal civil rights protections. The case originated when a transgender girl sued the state after being barred from joining a girls’ middle school track team, the Associated Press reported.
While the case has drawn national attention and sparked debate, Armistead said her decision to step into the spotlight wasn’t taken lightly.
“I didn’t want to do it at first because I knew there could be a cost,” she said. “But my parents — and really the whole Owensboro community — taught me to be brave and to stand up for what’s right, even when it’s difficult.”
Armistead said she hopes to continue advocating for women and girls after the case concludes. She’s currently clerking for Judge Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe. What comes next, she said, remains to be seen.
“But I know this: I want to use my voice to stand up for those who don’t always have one,” she said. “I’m doing this not just as a law student, but for young girls who just want a fair shot.”
To girls in Owensboro and beyond, Armistead offered a simple message: “Courage is contagious. When you stand up for what’s right, others will follow.”
