Nevada Women’s Volleyball Forfeits Match Against San Jose State Over Transgender Player Controversy

The University of Nevada, Reno‘s women’s volleyball team has officially forfeited its scheduled match against San Jose State University due to a controversy surrounding a transgender player on the San Jose State team. This decision makes Nevada the fifth team to forfeit a match against San Jose State, following similar actions by Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming, and Utah State.

The controversy centers around Blaire Fleming, a transgender player on the San Jose State team. Nevada players, including team captain Sia Liillii, had expressed their intention not to compete against Fleming, citing concerns over fairness and safety in women’s sports. Despite the university’s initial stance to proceed with the match, the players’ decision to forfeit was finalized on Friday morning, with the university citing that it did not have enough players to compete.

The match was initially scheduled to be held at Nevada’s campus in Reno but was later moved to San Jose State’s campus in California, a decision made “in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators.” However, with the forfeiture, neither team will need to travel.

San Jose State has maintained that its athletes comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies and are eligible to play. The university emphasized its commitment to the health and safety of its students while they pursue their opportunities to compete.

The issue has sparked a broader debate on the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports, with national figures and politicians weighing in. A lawsuit filed against the NCAA by plaintiffs, including former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and San Jose State player Brooke Slusser, challenges the NCAA’s policies on gender identity and their impact on women’s sports.

The forfeit has significant implications for the league standings, as San Jose State will be granted a victory without having to play the match. This is the fourth conference game that San Jose State has won due to forfeit, aiding their run toward their first NCAA Tournament appearance in over two decades.