The ACLU recently released an ad on January 12, ahead of the oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court in West Virginia v. BPJ and Little v. Hecox — the two cases challenging state laws that protect the integrity of women’s sports.
The ad is called “More Than a Game.” And it features actors Naomi Watts and Ellen/Elliot Page, former WNBA player Sue Bird and Olympic and World Cup soccer star Megan Rapinoe.
The ad asserts that sports are all about freedom and self-expression.
But that isn’t what sports are about.
Sports are about competing.
Sports are about digging deep, finding the best in yourself, striving.
Sports are about self-reliance not self-expression.
There are rules in sports. Freedom has nothing to do with it.
There are age divisions and weight classes and clear rules to every game: three strikes and you're out, no off sides, a floor routine is 90 seconds. You can’t punch in the back of the head, and you can’t trip people on the baseball diamond and you get two free throws in basketball – not three for self-expression.
But the ACLU wants you to focus on the plaintiff – BPJ – in the West Virginia case. BPJ just wants the freedom to express himself. By competing in the girls category.
No.
We made an ad to communicate what sports are really about.
Exclusion, not inclusion. Not everybody makes the team, or the podium.
Striving not giving in.
Excellence, and merit, and mastery.
Megan Rapinoe knows this. She has to be one of the most competitive women in the world. She is an Olympian and long time national team member.
But she is pulling the ladder up behind her for the girls who come after her.
But women’s rights aren’t a game. And we’re standing up for women and girls everywhere.
Here’s our ad starring Riley Gaines, Sage Steele, Clay Travis and me. And so many others taking a stand to save women’s sports.
Watch the ad here:
Riley Gaines
12x All-American | 5x SEC Champion | 2x Olympic Trials Qualifier | 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee
Kaitlynn Wheeler
Swimming | NCAA Division I Swimmer | SEC Champion
Brooke Slusser
Volleyball | San José State University Co-Captain| honorable mention All-Mountain West honors
Lauren Miller
Professional Golfer | 2022 U.S. Women’s Open Participant
Elizabeth
Professional Soccer Player
Jennifer, Clay & Sage
Jennifer Sey | Founder of XX-XY Athletics
Clay Travis | Founder of Outkick & cohost of the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show
Sage Steele | Former ESPN Sports Center anchor & host of The Sage Steele Show
