Typically I’m more team JOMO than FOMO. But when I saw that Tyrese Haliburton and Donovan Mitchell both hosted wedding celebrations this past Saturday, a part of me wished I was back in the Midwest. Had I been home, I could have celebrated with my fellow Cavs and Pacers fans… a group that apparently includes one hype man who can be found in the club — and the reception. Rumor has it, he was there to help Haliburton troll his New York rivals. But based on the now-viral video from Mitchell’s nuptials, it feels like it’d take a lot more than a sing-along to bring down Jalen Brunson’s “Knicks in five” high. May we all find someone who looks at us the way he looks at Jaylen Brown across a dance floor. The memes write themselves. Now, let’s get to the rest of the sports headlines…
— Jordan Galloway, Editor, Katonah, NY
Let's Discuss
An Old Debate Enters New Territory
What's going on: For years, few issues have sparked as much debate as whether or not transgender athletes should be able to participate in women’s sports. In many places, that question already has an answer. Almost 30 states now restrict transgender girls from girls' school sports, President Trump has ordered federal agencies to interpret Title IX similarly, and this summer, the Supreme Court let the state bans stand. But those decisions raise a new question: If governments and governing bodies determine trans women can't compete, how do they verify who can?
The next chapter: Last month, the Women’s Tennis Association told players they must pass a one-time genetic sex screening before competing. World Athletics introduced a similar measure last summer. This week, The Cut spotlighted a Washington state ballot initiative that critics say could require girls who play school sports to verify their sex through medical documentation. Proponents argue that's the logical next step if women's sports are going to be fair. Critics counter that policies aimed at a small number of transgender athletes (which available data suggests are a tiny fraction of competitors) could expand medical scrutiny to every girl who wants to participate, that includes athletes with naturally occurring genetic or hormonal differences. As more leagues and lawmakers redraw the rules, the next issue may not be who belongs in women's sports, but how much female athletes will be asked to prove before they can play.
