USA Powerlifting Settles Transgender Athlete Discrimination Lawsuit
USA Powerlifting has settled a discrimination lawsuit with transgender athlete JayCee Cooper.
Why it matters: The settlement reflects shifting legal standards for transgender rights in athletics, with direct implications for sports organizations' compliance and HR policies. Legal counsel must stay alert to evolving state-level human rights protections and their impact on event eligibility rules.
- JayCee Cooper sued USA Powerlifting in 2021 after being denied entry to women's events in 2018.
- The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in October 2025 that USAPL's exclusion policy violated state law.
- Settlement terms remain confidential, but USAPL agreed to pay a sum to Cooper and acknowledged the court's decision.
- USAPL has not announced its future operational plans in Minnesota.
USA Powerlifting (USAPL) and transgender athlete JayCee Cooper have reached a confidential settlement, ending a legal fight that began when Cooper was barred from competing in women's events in 2018. The settlement, reached on April 28, 2026, follows a major ruling by the Minnesota Supreme Court in October 2025, which found that USAPL's policy violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
- Cooper filed her lawsuit in 2021, alleging that USAPL discriminated based on gender identity. The case drew national attention as a bellwether for LGBTQ rights in sports.
- The court's 2025 decision required USAPL to acknowledge the legal protections for transgender athletes under Minnesota law. The organization ultimately agreed to pay a settlement sum to Cooper, though the amount is not publicly available. Read more.
- Jess Braverman, Legal Director at Gender Justice, said the outcome "affirms Minnesota's commitment to protecting every person's right to compete, belong and thrive without discrimination."
- However, Larry Maile, USAPL's former president, cautioned that the ruling is "a step backward for women, fair competition and common sense."
- Following the settlement, USAPL has not disclosed how it will proceed with its events or membership policies in Minnesota. Details here.
The dispute and its conclusion underscore the complexities now facing sports bodies as legal norms around gender identity evolve at the state level. Organizations operating across multiple jurisdictions face heightened compliance and litigation risk.
By the numbers:
- 2018 — Year USAPL denied Cooper's entry to women's events.
- 2021 — Lawsuit filed by Cooper against USAPL.
- October 2025 — Minnesota Supreme Court ruled USAPL policy unlawful.
- April 28, 2026 — Settlement reached between Cooper and USAPL.
Yes, but: The specific financial terms of the settlement remain confidential, and USAPL's future policy direction in Minnesota is undecided.
What's next: USAPL is expected to announce its operational and policy plans for Minnesota in the coming months.