San Jose State University's women's volleyball team is at the center of a growing controversy as Mountain West Conference schools continue to forfeit matches over the participation of a transgender player. Utah State University recently joined the list of institutions such as Southern Utah University, Boise State, and the University of Wyoming, all opting out of games against the San Jose team. While the specific reasons for these forfeitures haven't been publicly detailed, the actions are believed to be in protest of NCAA policies allowing transgender women to compete in women's sports.
It all began with Southern Utah University's decision to cancel their match on September 14, during the Santa Clara Tournament, setting a precedent that others in the Mountain West Conference soon followed, Boise State announced on September 28 that they would not play their scheduled match against San José State, and Wyoming withdrew from their October 5 game according to reports from KUTV and Deseret News, respectively.
Boise State's statement, simple and lacking an elucidation of their reasoning, read, “Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled match at San José State on Saturday, Sept. 28." Similarly, Wyoming opted for brevity and neutrality in their announcement, saying, “After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San José State University in the UniWyo Sports Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5," as reported by Deseret News.
These forfeitures have not gone without political support in Utah, where Utah State Volleyball found an ally in Governor Cox, Mike Schultz, the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives voiced strong support for the movement, "To the Utah State and Southern Utah Women Volleyball teams: We stand behind you and are cheering you on! Thank you for standing up for not only yourselves but for women across the country – current and future generations," Schultz said, as per ABC4, his sentiments mirroring the stance of some who question the NCAA's transgender athlete policies. KRON broke further detail when a teammate allegedly overheard and then reported that a San Jose player, named Fleming, was transgender, the athletes on the team were reportedly told to keep Fleming's gender discussions internal.
As the controversy unfolds, the Mountain West Conference faces mounting scrutiny over how it will address these forfeitures and the complicated dynamics of inclusion and competition in collegiate sports. The discussion on transgender athletes' participation is a divisive subject, resonating far beyond the volleyball court and into broader socio-political discourse.