Stephen A. Smith Backs Riley Gaines in Trans Athlete Debate, Urges Fairness in Women’s Sports

 The growing tension between Olympic champion Simone Biles and former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines over transgender participation in women’s sports has now drawn the attention of ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith — and he’s not holding back.

On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the outspoken ESPN analyst said he agrees with Gaines’ broader concerns about fairness in women’s sports, even as he distanced himself from her use of disgraced doctor Larry Nassar to make her point.

“Outside of the Larry Nassar comment, that should give us all cause for pause,” Smith said. “The reality is that it is a disservice to women, in a lot of people’s eyes, that men transitioning to women get to compete in women’s sports.”

Simone vs. Riley: A Feud Goes Public

The controversy flared after Gaines criticized a Minnesota girls’ softball league for disabling comments on a post celebrating a state championship team that included a transgender player. Biles fired back on social media, calling Gaines out personally — an exchange that quickly went viral.

Gaines, a former Kentucky swimming standout who’s become a vocal activist for sex-based sports categories, addressed Biles’ remarks on her OutKick podcast Gaines for Girls, accusing the gymnast of attacking her character rather than engaging in debate.

Smith, while critical of Gaines invoking Nassar, said her core argument is one that deserves attention.

“Lia Thomas is the perfect example,” Smith said, referencing the trans swimmer who stirred controversy after switching from competing in men’s NCAA swimming to dominating the women’s division. “As a man, [Thomas] ranked 554th. As a woman, top 10. That speaks for itself.”

A Question of Fair Play

Smith emphasized that the issue isn’t about civil rights or equal treatment in society — but rather about the physical realities of competition.

“We’re not talking about civil liberties,” he noted. “We’re talking about sports competition. And whether it’s boxing, swimming, or basketball — there’s a biological difference that needs to be respected.”

Drawing from sports hypotheticals, Smith cited past fan speculation over a Ronda Rousey vs. Floyd Mayweather bout, saying that, while entertaining, the idea overlooked real differences in physicality.

“I don’t want to see Claressa Shields in a boxing ring with Terence Crawford,” he added. “That’s not what fairness looks like.”

Call for Transgender-Only Categories

Perhaps most striking, Smith floated a controversial solution: creating a separate category for transgender athletes.

“If you ask me my preference? I hope a whole bunch of men transitioning to women come out of the woodwork. So we can have men going up against men, women against women, and transgenders against transgenders. That’s fair.”

He acknowledged, however, that a previous attempt by World Aquatics to launch an “open” category in 2022 failed due to lack of interest.

Final Word: Respect the Debate

Smith concluded by defending Gaines’ right to voice her opinion without being vilified.

“She’s talking about an unfair advantage,” he said. “Just because she lost? That doesn’t invalidate what she’s saying. She has the right to feel the way she does — and other women do too.”

As the debate over inclusion, fairness, and biological differences continues to rage, figures like Smith stepping into the fray suggest this conversation is far from over.