A high-profile discrimination lawsuit involving transgender powerlifter JayCee Cooper and USA Powerlifting has reached a settlement, closing a legal battle that has spanned several years and drawn national attention.
The agreement follows a 2025 decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court, which found that USA Powerlifting violated the state’s Human Rights Act by barring Cooper from competing in women’s events.
Cooper, a Minnesota-based athlete and advocate, first challenged the organization after she was denied entry into women’s competitions in 2018. She argued the exclusion constituted unlawful discrimination based on her gender identity.
USA Powerlifting had defended its policy by citing what it described as physical advantages tied to sex assigned at birth. However, the state’s highest court ruled that a blanket exclusion of transgender women from the women’s division qualified as discrimination in public accommodations under Minnesota law.
The newly finalized settlement resolves the case, though many of its terms remain confidential. Reports indicate the agreement includes a financial component, while both parties are restricted from publicly disclosing specific payment details.
Legal advocates representing Cooper framed the outcome as a broader civil rights victory. In public statements, they emphasized that the case reinforces protections for transgender people in everyday spaces, including sports, employment, and education.
The dispute has also raised ongoing questions about how athletic organizations balance inclusion with claims about competitive fairness. While the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled the exclusion discriminatory, it also allowed USA Powerlifting to argue in lower court proceedings whether such policies could be justified under a “legitimate business purpose” standard.
USA Powerlifting has signaled uncertainty about its future in Minnesota following the ruling and settlement, though it continues to operate in other states.
The case is one of several across the United States testing how existing anti-discrimination laws apply to transgender athletes. While the Minnesota ruling is limited to state law, legal experts say it could influence similar challenges elsewhere, particularly in jurisdictions with comparable human rights statutes.
For Cooper, the settlement marks the conclusion of a fight that began with a denied competition entry and evolved into a defining legal moment in the broader conversation about transgender inclusion in sports.
