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Riley Gaines says blockage of Biden admin's Title IX changes is a 'huge win for humanity'

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Riley Gaines says blockage of Biden admin's Title IX changes is a 'huge win for humanity'

A U.S. district court in Kentucky on Monday halted the implementation of the Biden administration’s new Title IX protections for transgender individuals in Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia.

OutKick’s “Gaines for Girls” podcast host, and former NCAA swimmer, Riley Gaines said the ruling is a “huge win for humanity.”

“This is a huge win for women and girls, but really what this is is a huge win for humanity. It’s a win for objective truth,” Gaines said on Fox News Channel’s “America Reports” on Tuesday. 

Riley Gaines attends the DailyWire+ Red Carpet Premiere of “Lady Ballers” on November 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Jason Davis/Getty Images for Bentkey Ventures)

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Gaines began fighting for fairness in women’s sports after transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who Gaines went up against, won a Division I title in 2022.

“I’ve been more hopeful these past few weeks than I have been at any point these last two years that I have so unapologetically and firmly taken this stand. … I feel very hopeful. I think the gender ideology house of cards is crumbling fast.”

Gaines, the director of the Riley Gaines Center at the Leadership Institute, relived the “traumatizing” experience of not only racing against Thomas, but being naked beside the trans swimmer in the locker room.

“To put it in plain words, it felt like betrayal. It felt like an utter violation, and truly, it was traumatizing,” she said. “A 6-foot-4 man fully naked, fully intact, fully exposing himself, simultaneously inches away from where we were fully undressed.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas and Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines tied for 5th in the 200 Freestyle finals at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships on March 18, 2022 at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta Georgia.  (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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“But it was traumatizing for me to know just how easy it was for those people who created and enforced these policies to totally dismiss our rights to privacy without even a second thought, without even bare minimum forewarning us that we would be sharing this changing space. That’s what the Biden administration, that’s the message he’s sending to young girls like myself.”

A federal judge blocked Biden’s Title IX rule in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana and Idaho last week.

The New Hampshire senate passed a bill last month that would bar transgender athletes in grades 5-12 from competing against the gender they identify as.

The passing of the New Hampshire bill came a couple of weeks after Arkansas governor Sarah Sanders signed an executive order in response to the new Title IX regulations. Sanders said she had been “appalled” by the “attack on common sense.”

President Biden is seen speaking in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

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At least 20 states have approved a version of a blanket ban on transgender athletes playing on K-12 and collegiate sports teams statewide.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos and The Associated Press 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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2026 World Cup Odds: How Far Will Team USA Go?

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2026 World Cup Odds: How Far Will Team USA Go?

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When will Team USA lose in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Or, will it not lose at all? 

Let’s check out the odds for the Americans’ stage of elimination at FanDuel Sportsbook, as of June 11.

Team USA — Stage of elimination odds

Last 32: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)
Last 16: +220 (bet $10 to win $32 total)
Group stage: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Quarterfinals: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
Semifinals: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Runner-up: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)
Outright winner: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)

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The outlook appears to be … ho-hum?

If the odds ring true, the Americans are expected to make it out of the group stage but fall in the first knockout stage game. 

How would that result stack up against previous results? Well, at the 2022 World Cup, Team USA made it to the Round of 16, which was viewed as a stellar accomplishment. 

The U.S. men’s national team currently has 60-1 odds to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy this summer (Photo by Omar Vega/USSF/Getty Images).

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In 2018, the USA did not qualify for the World Cup, and in 2014 and 2010, the Americans also made it to the Round of 16. Their best result this century occurred in 2002, when the Americans made it all the way to the quarterfinals before being eliminated. 

In 1998, Team USA lost in the group stage, in 1994, it fell in the Round of 16, and in 1990, it also fell in the group stage.

With the expanded World Cup format, 32 teams will advance to the knockout stage (out of 48), giving teams a much better chance of getting out of the group stage than in previous tournaments. In past years, only 50% of the field advanced to the knockout round, but now 66.6% of teams will move on.

With that being said, anything less than a knockout round appearance on home soil would be viewed as a major failure this summer for Team USA.

The second result on the oddsboard is the “Last 16,” meaning the USA would make it out of the group stage and win one knockout stage game, before falling in the second knockout stage game. The third result is that the Americans failed to make it out of the group stage, and the fourth is that they made it to the quarterfinals, meaning they won two knockout stage games. 

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Making the semis, losing in the championship game and winning the championship are the three results with the longest odds. 

The U.S. begins its World Cup journey on Friday as the Stars and Stripes face Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. Getting off to a fast start in the group is crucial for the team’s World Cup dreams of making a deep run this summer. 

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Shohei Ohtani, Justin Wrobleski sustain injuries, exit early for Dodgers vs. Pirates

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Shohei Ohtani, Justin Wrobleski sustain injuries, exit early for Dodgers vs. Pirates

The Dodgers couldn’t have asked for better timing, as Shohei Ohtani’s leadoff spot came back around.

They were clinging to a two-run lead in the top of the seventh inning against the Pirates on Thursday. With one out and runners on first and second, the Dodgers superstar, who had already reached base four times, was due up.

Instead, Santiago Espinal stepped up to the plate as a pinch-hitter.

Ohtani left the game with inflammation in his left knee, the Dodgers announced. They did not immediately offer an explanation for the injury.

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Before leaving, Ohtani hit a solo home run — his second homer in as many games — a single and drew two walks.

It was an impressive performance, coming a day after he took on two-way duties. On the mound Wednesday, he allowed three earned runs in 6⅔ innings.

Earlier in the game Thursday, Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski exited with a bruised right hamstring, the team said.

The fifth inning had already begun to spiral on him. After throwing four scoreless innings, he surrendered two solo home runs to Rafael Flores Jr. (the first of his major-league career) and Brandon Lowe.

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Then Bryan Reynolds hit a line-drive comebacker off Wrobleski’s leg. The ball ricocheted to the edge of the infield grass, where first baseman Freddie Freeman picked it up.

Wrobleski was already racing toward first base. But after turning to catch the throw, he missed the base and stumbled backward into Reynolds, who tripped over Wrobleski’s extended left foot.

Wrobleski limped away, and an athletic trainer followed him, circling back to the mound. But as he was setting up to throw a warm-up pitch, manager Dave Roberts came out to make a pitching change.

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Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry advises Caitlin Clark to protect herself on the court

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Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry advises Caitlin Clark to protect herself on the court

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Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry has some simple advice for Caitlin Clark: Fight back.

Horry, 55, was asked about the criticism the Indiana Fever star has gotten for complaining to the referees, and Horry said Clark needs to protect herself.

“You think about when you when you’re the best, everybody want to knock you out. And I think a lot of people are going after her and for me, just play the game,” Horry told Fox News Digital at The World Cup 2026 Kickoff Party Blue Carpet at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark waits for play to resume during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on May 28, 2026. (David Gonzales/Imagn Images)

“Some other players around the league didn’t protect themselves, and the (harassment) went on, so my best advice (for) her is protect yourself. Don’t let nobody try to punk you.”

Horry played with Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and cited him as an example of a player who fought back.

“I think I (played) with one of the greatest players (in) Shaquille O’Neal, he got hammered. I know he’s bigger and stronger than Caitlin, but he got to a point where he just started fighting back. You know, someone (elbowed him), you elbow him back.”

Clark has taken some hard fouls during her three seasons in the WNBA, with many fans wondering if the treatment from her competitors is intentional. The 24-year-old frequently pleads her case to the referees after contact, which has drawn the ire of fans who say she complains too much.

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Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever reacts after a foul was called during the first half against the Portland Fire at Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, on May 30, 2026. (Ali Gradischer/Getty Images)

Fever fans at least weren’t complaining when Clark buried a game-winning 3-pointer to help secure a 78-76 win over the Washington Mystics on Monday. Clark had 19 points, five assists and three rebounds in the win.

The Fever have had a tumultuous start to the season, but are over .500 at 6-5. In 10 games, Clark has averaged 18.7 points, 8.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Horry played in the NBA for 16 seasons. He began his career with the Houston Rockets, spending four and a half seasons with them and being a key part of their championship-winning teams in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. The Alabama native was then traded to the Phoenix Suns, where he spent half a season before signing with the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Robert Horry and Candice Horry pose on the blue carpet for the World Cup 2026 Kickoff Party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on June 9, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

Horry was a key contributor during the Lakers’ three-peat from 1999-2001 and earned his third, fourth and fifth career NBA titles. After spending seven seasons with the Lakers, Horry joined the Spurs, where he won two more championships in 2004-05 and 2006-07.

In 16 seasons, Horry averaged 7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.

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