More than 100 girls in Minnesota worked their entire season for one goal: a state championship. They showed up, followed the rules, and played with everything they had. But none of it mattered. Because when the trophy was handed out, it didn’t go to the most deserving team. It went to a team with a biological male dominating from the mound. And nobody in charge had the courage to say it was wrong.
One Trans Athlete Changed Everything
Marissa Rothenberger pitched five straight games in the tournament. Four were shutouts. The final was a 6–0 rout. In total, 21 consecutive scoreless innings. He even hit two doubles in the semifinal. That’s not just a strong performance, that’s tournament-breaking dominance. And it came from someone who, no matter how they identify, has physical advantages the rest of the girls simply didn’t.
This Isn’t Hate. It’s Basic Fairness
We’ve reached a point where even bringing this up feels dangerous. But how can anyone look those girls in the eye and say that was fair? They didn’t lose because they were outcoached or outplayed. They lost because the system told them they don’t matter. That their years of work, sacrifice, and discipline were worth less than one athlete’s feelings.
Whose Feelings Count?
That’s the question at the center of all this. We hear nonstop about protecting the mental health and identity of trans athletes. But what about the girls? What about their heartbreak? Their futures? Why is no one afraid of hurting them?
The Science Everyone’s Ignoring
There’s a reason men and women compete separately in sports, and it’s not just tradition—it’s biology. Multiple peer-reviewed studies have confirmed that even after hormone therapy, biological males retain significant physical advantages. These include greater bone density, larger cardiac output, increased lung capacity, and higher lean muscle mass—all of which directly affect speed, strength, and endurance.
In a 2021 review published in Sports Medicine, researchers found that trans women maintain a performance edge over biological females for at least two years after starting hormone treatment. And in many cases, that advantage never fully disappears. This is especially true in sports that rely on explřsive strength, like sprinting, throwing, or in this case, pitching. It’s not discrimination to acknowledge these facts. It’s basic physiology.
The Grown-Ups Stayed Quiet
What makes this worse is that everyone in charge saw it happening. Athletic officials, school leaders, and tournament organizers. All of them knew what was going on. But instead of standing up for the girls, they chose the easy path. They chose silence. And that silence was deafening.
MSHSL even tweeted out to congratulate them. They are rightfully getting destroyed on the quote tweets though.
This Will Happen Again
Let’s not pretend this is some isolated moment. If the rules don’t change, it’s going to keep happening. More girls will lose. More teams will be pushed aside. More trophies will go to whoever benefits most from a broken system that’s afraid to offend.
Also, Rothenberger is only a junior. Her run at Champlin Park High School is far from over.
It’s Not Bigotry to Want Sports to Be Fair
We can support people’s rights to live how they want. We can respect identity. But when it comes to competition, there has to be lines. If we keep pretending biology doesn’t matter in sports, we’re not being inclusive. We’re being dishonest. And young women are the ones paying the price.
Final Thought
The girls in Minnesota deserved better. They earned better. And deep down, everyone knows it. If we care about fairness and I mean REAL FAIRNESS, then we have to stop pretending this is okay.