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Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court

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Trans female weightlifter takes USA Powerlifting lawsuit to Minnesota Supreme Court

A yearslong case surrounding a transgender female powerlifter reached the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday where opening arguments were heard.

JayCee Cooper, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021 after being rejected from the women’s team three years earlier. In the complaint, Cooper alleged the organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination against people “having or being perceived as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one’s biological maleness or femaleness.”

A district court ruled last year that the organization discriminated against Cooper, which spurred a mandate that the federation “cease and desist from all unfair discriminatory practices” because of sexual orientation and gender identity.

A yearslong case surrounding a transgender female powerlifter reached the Minnesota Supreme Court. (Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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The federation appealed the decision; Cooper then cross-appealed, and on Monday, the Minnesota Court of Appeals decided the athletic league did not discriminate against the individual.

On Tuesday, the court asked Ansis Viksnins, USA Powerlifting’s attorney, why banning Cooper from women’s competition was not “discriminatory.” 

Viksnins responded it was not “based on gender identity.”

The court asked if the policy would be equal had it been based on race or religion, comparing Cooper’s case to a hypothetical in which Catholics were to be better bowlers — but the comparison was shut down.

“There is no legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason why there could be separation based on religion or national origin or race, whereas there is a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for separating and treating transgender or women differently,” Viksnins said.

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JayCee Cooper, sued USA Powerlifting in 2021 after being rejected from the women’s team three years earlier. In the complaint, Cooper alleged the organization violated the Minnesota Human Rights Act. (Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH SJSU TRANSGENDER ATHLETE, KNEELS DURING NATIONAL ANTHEM

“The motive here was to separate biological males into a category where they are competing against other people who were born biologically male, that if I could point out my client separate competitors three ways by age, weight and sex. They do not care about gender identity. They don’t care about sexual orientation.”

The federation opened an “open” category in 2021 “to serve all gender identities,” according to FOX 9 in Minnesota.

“Our goal at USAPL is to create rules and a framework that uphold the principles of fair play, not to exclude anyone,” said Larry Maile, President of USAPL in a statement to the outlet. “Since science shows those who were born biologically male have a profound physical advantage over female-born athletes, our responsibility is to define legitimate categories to fairly place athletes within them.”

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A state court cited “increased risk of depression and suicide, lack of access to coaching and practice facilities, or other performance suppression common to transgender persons” as competitive disadvantages for transgender competitors, helping Cooper initially win the discrimination case.

According to Open Powerlifting, Cooper last competed at the 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals in Texas and finished in third place out of three competitors in the division.

Cooper last competed at the 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals in Texas and finished in third place out of three competitors in the division. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Cooper twice competed against a lone competitor — Rebecca Richnofsky — in the women’s raw 198+ open category in 2019, winning both times. 

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In the 2019 USPA National Championships, Cooper finished in fourth out of four competitors in that category.

Fox News’ Jamie Joseph contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.



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Cleveland, OH

Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026

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Ohio high school girls basketball scores: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026


CLEVELAND, Ohio — OHSAA girls basketball scores from Saturday in Ohio, as provided by The Associated Press.

Akr. Coventry 67, Streetsboro 22

Akr. Ellet 43, Can. South 34

Akr. Hoban 72, Gates Mills Gilmour 36

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Apple Creek Waynedale 43, Ashland 42

Arcadia 54, Dola Hardin Northern 47

Ashtabula Edgewood 45, Geneva 40

Attica Seneca E. 43, Sycamore Mohawk 27

Aurora 63, Medina Highland 57

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Avon 54, Amherst Steele 33

Avon Lake 73, N. Ridgeville 43

Bedford, Mich. 47, Tol. Rogers 33

Bellbrook 59, Monroe 26

Beloit W. Branch 54, Minerva 8

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Berlin Center Western Reserve 70, Girard 53

Berlin Hiland 59, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley 17

Botkins 47, Elida 40

Bowerston Conotton Valley 42, Rittman 32

Bowling Green Christian Academy 33, Put-in-Bay 11

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Carey 52, Bucyrus 14

Casstown Miami E. 63, Day. Northridge 41

Castalia Margaretta 57, Port Clinton 21

Centerburg 54, Danville 37

Chardon 48, Eastlake North 38

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Chesapeake 56, Greenup Co., Ky. 18

Chesterland W. Geauga 40, Gates Mills Hawken 28

Cin. McNicholas 56, Cin. Anderson 44

Cin. Oak Hills 44, Liberty Twp. Lakota E. 40

Cin. Princeton 65, Hamilton 22

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Cin. Summit 63, St Bernard-Elmwood Place 13

Cin. Sycamore 74, Middletown 11

Cols. Linden-McKinley 42, Day. Dunbar 24

Columbia Station Columbia 47, Wellington 20

Coshocton 51, Bridgeport 36

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Creston Norwayne 42, New London 31

Crooksville 50, Byesville Meadowbrook 35

Cuyahoga Falls 49, Barberton 8

Cuyahoga Falls CVCA 43, Cle. Hts. Beaumont 34

Dalton 62, Dover 39

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Dawson-Bryant 51, S. Webster 49

Day. Oakwood 61, Eaton 22

Day. Stivers 56, Cin. Taft 34

Delta 55, Bloomdale Elmwood 39

E. Can. 43, Hartville Lake Center Christian 42

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E. Palestine 37, Campbell Memorial 24

Edon 46, Defiance Tinora 43

Elyria Open Door 52, Tol. Waite 24

Fairview 70, Beachwood 34

Findlay Liberty-Benton 43, Kalida 30

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Galloway Westland 35, Day. Belmont 30

Garfield Hts. Trinity 59, Independence 19

Garrettsville Garfield 38, Middlefield Cardinal 35

Genoa Christian 44, Liberty Christian Academy 17

Gibsonburg 62, Sandusky St. Mary 19

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Gorham Fayette 41, Antwerp 30

Hamilton Ross 43, Trenton Edgewood 38

Hillsboro 46, Washington C.H. Miami Trace 45

Huber Hts. Wayne 72, Clayton Northmont 22

Hudson 78, Solon 59

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Jefferson Area 46, Ashtabula Lakeside 10

Kansas Lakota 51, New Riegel 29

Kent Roosevelt 46, Richfield Revere 44

Kenton 82, Lima Perry 14

Kettering Alter 49, Day. Carroll 42

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Kingsway Christian 32, Senedot Stripes 18

Kingsway Christian 60, Coshocton Christian 23

Kirtland 52, Wickliffe 17

LaGrange Keystone 72, Sullivan Black River 15

Lakewood 51, Bay (OH) 40

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Legacy Christian 56, Cedarville 49

Lima Shawnee 60, Lima Cent. Cath. 25

Lockland 53, Cin. Shroder 49

London 67, Plain City Jonathan Alder 12

London Madison-Plains 51, Milford Center Fairbanks 30

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Loudonville 48, Cardington-Lincoln 36

Lucasville Valley 50, South Point 16

Macedonia Nordonia 47, Brecksville-Broadview Hts. 45

Madison 70, Conneaut 41

Mansfield Madison 39, Millersburg W. Holmes 33

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Maria Stein Marion Local 44, Anna 20

Marion Harding High School 53, Caledonia River Valley 32

Martins Ferry 77, Weir, W.Va. 19

Mason 54, Cin. Colerain 32

Massillon Jackson 50, Can. McKinley 44

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Massillon Perry 48, N. Can. Hoover 42

Mayfield 64, Willoughby S. 51

McConnelsville Morgan 46, New Concord John Glenn 22

Mentor 69, Brunswick 41

Miller City 56, Arlington 22

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Milton-Union 61, Sidney Lehman 20

N. Robinson Col. Crawford 57, Bucyrus Wynford 33

New Paris National Trail 52, Hamilton New Miami 19

New Philadelphia 52, Linsly, W.Va. 34

Newcomerstown 51, Malvern 34

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Newton Local 54, Franklin Middletown Christian 42

Norton 68, Ravenna 19

Ohio Deaf 48, Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind, Va. 19

Old Fort 43, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 30

Ontario 65, Galion 43

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Orange 31, Painesville Harvey 27

Ottawa-Glandorf 71, Ft. Loramie 45

Oxford Talawanda 52, Franklin 32

Painesville Riverside 42, Chagrin Falls Kenston 41

Pandora-Gilboa 51, Ft. Jennings 27

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Parma Hts. Holy Name 52, Chardon NDCL 49

Parma Padua 49, Elyria Cath. 32

Pataskala Licking Hts. 40, Pataskala Watkins Memorial 28

Paulding 64, Bluffton 42

Philo 56, Warsaw River View 24

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Piqua 51, Xenia 18

Powell Olentangy Liberty 37, Cols. Bishop Watterson 28

Proctorville Fairland 50, Cabell Midland, W.Va. 26

Proctorville Fairland 82, Vincent Warren 39

Rocky River 65, Parma Normandy 51

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Rootstown 40, Mantua Crestwood 21

STVM 59, Youngs. Ursuline 33

Salem 47, Alliance 18

Shadyside 47, New Matamoras Frontier 42

Shaker Hts. Laurel 60, Doylestown Chippewa 39

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Sheffield Brookside 47, Lorain Clearview 28

Shelby 65, Sparta Highland 40

St. Henry (OH) 49, Spencerville 31

Steubenville Cath. Cent. 68, Zanesville Rosecrans 32

Strongsville 67, Shaker Hts. 39

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Sunbury Big Walnut 59, Lewis Center Olentangy 56

Sylvania Southview 46, Lima 44

Tallmadge 38, Copley 34

Thornville Sheridan 33, Dresden Tri-Valley 30

Tipp City Bethel 62, DeGraff Riverside 31

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Tipp City Tippecanoe 62, Greenville 31

Tol. Christian 66, W. Unity Hilltop 40

Twinsburg 55, Stow-Munroe Falls 23

Uhrichsville Claymont 51, Sugarcreek Garaway 40

Upper Sandusky 28, New Washington Buckeye Cent. 23

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Urbana 69, New Carlisle Tecumseh 25

Vermilion 50, Milan Edison 45

Versailles 55, Jackson Center 16

W. Jefferson 45, Spring. Cath. Cent. 26

Wadsworth 45, N. Royalton 33

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Warren Howland 56, Cortland Lakeview 50

Waverly 57, Gallipolis Gallia 51

Waynesville 50, Brookville 30

Westerville N. 51, Columbus South 40

Westlake 63, N. Olmsted 34

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Westtown, Pa. 85, Western Reserve Academy 44

Worthington Kilbourne 58, Thomas Worthington 31

Zanesville W. Muskingum 61, Zanesville Maysville 28

Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley 53, W. Lafayette Ridgewood 20



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Illinois

Where to watch Iowa basketball vs. Illinois today: TV channel, time

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Where to watch Iowa basketball vs. Illinois today: TV channel, time


Iowa basketball (12-3, 2-2 Big Ten) welcomes in No. 16 Illinois (12-3, 3-1 Big Ten) to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in a top-25 conference tilt.

The 19th-ranked Hawkeyes are looking to get the taste of a frustrating road loss at Minnesota out of their mouths. Iowa trailed by as many as 14, but rallied back to take the lead in the game’s final two minutes. The Golden Gophers hit a go-ahead 3-pointer from Jaylen Crocker-Johnson and then watched as a series of potential game-tying Iowa threes wouldn’t drop in a final, frantic sequence from Williams Arena.

Illinois enters winners of four straight and six of their past seven. The Illini rolled past Rutgers on Thursday, 81-55.

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Watch Iowa vs. Illinois

Iowa owns a 57-24 all-time record against Illinois in Iowa City, though the Illini have owned the series of late. Illinois has won four straight over Iowa and nine of the past 10. That stretch of success from the Illini comes on the heels of a five-game Iowa win streak in the series from 2018-20.

As tipoff approaches, here’s how and when Hawkeye fans can watch Iowa basketball vs. Illinois:

How to watch Iowa basketball vs. Illinois

TV: Fox

Tipoff Time: 11 a.m.

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Iowa battles Illinois on Fox in its “Gold Out” game from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Jason Benetti (play-by-play) will be joined by Steve Smith (color).

How to stream Iowa basketball vs. Illinois

Hawkeye fans can stream Iowa basketball vs. Illinois with Fubo, which offers a free trial to first-time subscribers.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks



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Indiana

After Surviving Northwestern, MSU Basketball looks ahead to Indiana

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After Surviving Northwestern, MSU Basketball looks ahead to Indiana


Michigan State narrowly escaped with a home win against the now 8–7 Northwestern Wildcats. The Spartans struggled mightily in the first half, entering the break down seven points after scoring just 28 points. Michigan State committed eight turnovers in the opening 20 minutes and went 6-of-11 from the free-throw line.

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After a sluggish start, the Spartans regrouped and took control in the second half. Michigan State shot 14-of-27 from the field after halftime, playing with better pace and ball movement.

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Michigan State’s Cam Ward celebrates after a score and a Northwestern foul during the second half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Jeremy Fears, who picked up two early fouls and began the game 0-of-4 from the field, responded with a strong second half. He finished the game shooting 4-of-7 from the field and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free-throw line.

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Overall, Michigan State was far more composed in the second half against the Wildcats. However, with a matchup against Indiana looming, the Spartans will not be able to afford another slow start like the one they experienced against Northwestern.

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Jan 5, 2026; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Tom Izzo sends in a play against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images | Dale Young-Imagn Images

Scouting Indiana

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Indiana has undergone a similar offseason transformation to another Big Ten opponent Michigan State has already faced: the Iowa Hawkeyes. After parting ways with head coach Mike Woodson, the Hoosiers hired former West Virginia head coach Darian DeVries.

DeVries began his head coaching career at Drake, where he posted an impressive 150–55 record. Over his final four seasons with the Bulldogs, he led the program to 108 wins and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

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Michigan State’s Jaxon Kohler, center, makes a shot against Northwestern during the second half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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DeVries also went 79–33 in Missouri Valley Conference play, captured three MVC titles, and guided Drake to six of the program’s 11 20-win seasons before leaving for West Virginia.

In his lone season with the Mountaineers, DeVries engineered a significant turnaround, improving West Virginia from a 10-win team to a 19-win team.

Now at Indiana, DeVries has continued that trend of rapid improvement. In Mike Woodson’s final season, the Hoosiers finished 19–13 and missed the NCAA Tournament. This season, Indiana has already reached 12 wins and appears firmly back in the postseason conversation.

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Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, shoots as Northwestern’s Arrinten Page defends during the second half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Hoosiers are led by senior guard Lamar Wilkerson, a transfer from Sam Houston. Wilkerson is averaging 19.5 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from three-point range.

Indiana has been strong on both ends of the floor. According to KenPom, the Hoosiers rank 30th nationally in offensive efficiency and 28th in defensive efficiency.

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Michigan State’s Jeremy Fears Jr., left, slaps hands with Coen Carr, right, after Carr’s dunk against Northwestern during the second half on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As Michigan State prepares to face Indiana, the Spartans will need to clean up their first-half execution to keep pace with one of the Big Ten’s more balanced teams. Indiana’s efficiency on both ends of the court, combined with DeVries’ proven ability to elevate programs quickly, makes this a difficult matchup. For Michigan State, a complete 40-minute performance will be essential if it hopes to build momentum in conference play.

Keep up with all our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on Cam Ward when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don’t forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.

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