American gymnast Simone Biles was recently involved in a heated exchange with Ruiley Gaines and Sage Steele on the issue of transgender inclusion in women’s sports, and analyst Stephen A. Smith has something to say about the matter.
In his recent video, Stephen A. Smith expressed his agreement with his former colleague, Sage Steele, as he also called out Simone Biles for her attack against Riley Gaines. While he admitted he would have used lighter verbiage compared to Steele, he did not hold back in sounding his agreement on the matter.
“Maybe I would have used the other word other than sick or whatever, but it’s not like Sage Steel is wrong,” Smith said. “Based on what she described and the facts that we know, Riley Gaines is perfectly within her right to have the opinion that she had that she’s an American citizen who’s using the courts to make her argument, which is what we do in our democratic society.”
Smith added that he respects where Biles is coming from, but implored for her to see that “that’s just the truth.”
“I respect your passion to look out for those you feel are being victimized by a large segment of our population,” he added. “I understand that. But there are a lot of young ladies out there who were born women that feel this is a flagrantly unfair advantage.”
Smith also added that “we can’t have it all,” and proposes instead for transgender men and women to compete in their own category.
Simone Biles Blasted by Former ESPN Host Over: “Easy for You To Say This”
In one of her recent posts on X, former ESPN host Sage Steele blasted Simone Biles over the latter’s recent comments against Riley Gaines, particularly on the issue of transgender participation in women’s sports.
“Easy to say this, Simone Biles, when you only had to compete against fellow women,” Steele said on her post. “Every one of your Olympic medals came from competing against fellow women. Riley Gains was not only forced to compete against a man, but forced to share a locker room with a man. That is sick. Shocked and disappointed that you’d attack another woman who has done nothing but uplift other women.”
“If you think it makes sense to create a league for trans people, go for it. Use that huge platform of yours. But to attack Raleigh for what she has done for little girls who want to be the next Simone Biles is sick.”
Easy to say this @Simone_Biles when you only had to compete against fellow women. Every one of your Olympic medals came competing against fellow women. @Riley_Gaines_ was not only forced to compete against a man, but forced to share a locker room with a man. THAT is SICK.… https://t.co/YQl1uPJdVq
— Sage Steele (@sagesteele) June 7, 2025
Steele’s comments were ignited by how Biles criticized Riley Gaines over her stance ins the issue of transgender participation in women’s sports. She called Gaines a “sick” person and “a sore loser.”
While Gaines has always maintained a negative stance on the issue, Simone Biles has always maintained her stance on the inclusion of transgender individuals in women’s sports.
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Yelle is a broadcast communications graduate from the University of Perpetual Help-Dalta and has pursued a career in television and news writing in Net 25 and Radyo Agila. Some of her works can also be seen through her previous publication in Fastbreak.com.ph.
