This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in two cases challenging state bans on trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports.

Twenty-seven states have bans on trans girls and women competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity. 

But Washington passed a law in 2007 that protects trans athletes' participation in school sports. It was the first state to do so.

For more than a decade, that law received very little attention. But in recent years, questions about fairness, the athletic advantages conferred by testosterone, and the sanctity of women’s sports have become fiery political issues. 

And for the first time, a few trans athletes have won competitions, including Verónica Garcia, a runner from Spokane Valley.  In May, she repeated as the state 2A high school girls champion in the 400 meters.

Last month, she was the subject of an extensive profile in the Washington Post that explored her life as she was finishing high school and competing in track and field for the last time

Reporter Casey Parks followed Verónica for a year.

We spoke to them both for almost two hours. This episode is the condensed version of that conversation.  

Guests 

Verónica García, college student and runner

Casey Parks, reporter, The Washington Post

Related Links


For young transgender runner, racing wasn’t the hardest thing  - The Washington Post (Casey's piece)

Heywood you sign this? Let's Go WA is working on two new initiatives - Soundside, KUOW

WA Democrats won’t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives - Washington State Standard



Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

This week,&nbsp;the U.S. Supreme Court <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/12/us/politics/supreme-court-transgender-sports.html">is hearing arguments</a> in two cases challenging state bans on trans athletes competing in girls' and women's sports. Twenty-seven states have bans on trans girls and women competing in school sports consistent with their gender identity.&nbsp;
But Washington passed a law in 2007 that protects trans athletes' participation in school sports. It was the first state to do so.
For more than a decade, that law received very little attention. But in recent years, questions about fairness, the athletic advantages conferred by testosterone, and the sanctity of women&rsquo;s sports have become fiery political issues.&nbsp;
And for the first time, a few trans athletes have won competitions, including Ver&oacute;nica Garcia, a runner from Spokane Valley.&nbsp; In May, she <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/high-school/wa-transgender-athlete-veronica-garcia-repeats-as-state-track-champion/">repeated</a> as the state 2A high school girls champion in the 400 meters.
Last month, she was the subject of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/12/28/transgender-female-athlete-competition-trump/">an extensive profile</a> in the Washington Post that explored her life as she was finishing high school and competing in track and field for the last time
Reporter Casey Parks followed Ver&oacute;nica for a year.
We spoke to them both for almost two hours. This episode is the condensed version of that conversation.&nbsp; Guests&nbsp;
Ver&oacute;nica Garc&iacute;a, college student and runner
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/caseyparks.bsky.social">Casey Parks</a>, reporter, The Washington Post
Related Links 
<a href="https://wapo.st/49lnBUK">For young transgender runner, racing wasn&rsquo;t the hardest thing&nbsp;</a> - The Washington Post (Casey's piece)
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/heywood-you-sign-this-lets-go-wa-is-working-on-two-new-initiatives">Heywood you sign this? Let's Go WA is working on two new initiatives</a> - Soundside, KUOW
<a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/01/09/wa-democrats-wont-hold-hearings-on-parental-rights-trans-athlete-initiatives/">WA Democrats won&rsquo;t hold hearings on parental rights, trans athlete initiatives</a> - Washington State Standard 
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

We talked with runner Veronica Garcia and reporter Casey Parks about competing as a trans athlete amid questions of fairness, the scientific evidence available comparing the performance of cisgender and trans athletes and beyond.  