Several colleges forfeit women’s volleyball games against team with trans player

The University of Wyoming, Southern Utah University, Boise State University, and Utah State University have all forfeited their women’s volleyball games against San José State University, refusing to have their female athletes play against a biological male opponent that is on the school’s team.

At six-foot-one, Blaire Fleming (formerly Brayden Fleming) is San José’s transgender-identifying volleyball player. The Californian team is 9-2 as of Oct. 11.

Wyoming assistant athletic director Nick Seeman sent to The Center Square the school’s statement on forfeiting. The statement reads: “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. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming.”

That is “the only statement we will be making,” Seeman said.

Similarly, Boise State referred “back to [its] original statement” of forfeiting with no further comment, associate athletic director Chris Kutz told The Center Square.

Utah State University news director Logan Wilber told The Center Square, “we do not have further information or any additional comment at this time.” Utah State’s announcement states its forfeiture and its intention to abide by Mountain West Conference policy.

Southern Utah University’s public relations director Brooke Heath sent to The Center Square the school’s statement concerning not playing against San José State: “The Southern Utah University volleyball team opted to compete in just two non-conference games at the Santa Clara Tournament. Southern Utah informed the tournament directors and opposing teams of the decision, and we wish them well with the remainder of their respective seasons.”

San José senior director of media relations Michelle Smith McDonald told The Center Square “it is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete.”

“We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment,” McDonald said.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) “is a member-led organization dedicated to the well-being and lifelong success of college athletes,” according to its website. One priority of the association is to coordinate “fair and inclusive” competition.

The NCAA policy on an athlete playing in a sport with the sex opposite their own is a “sport-by-sport approach,” the NCAA says. A transgender-identifying person’s participation in a sport is “determined by the policy for the national governing body of that sport,” according to the NCAA

The NCAA faces a lawsuit for “allowing men who say they are women to compete in women’s sports” in violation of Title IX, The Center Square previously reported. Fleming’s teammate Brooke Slusser joined in on the lawsuit, according to NBC.

The governors of Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho came out in support of the actions of their state’s schools.

“I stand with the students, coaches and leadership at @SUUtbirds and @USUAggies in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State,” Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox said on X.

“It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely,” Cox said. “Our female athletes are left grappling with this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports. It’s time for the NCAA to take this seriously and protect our female student athletes.

“I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to [forgo] playing its volleyball match against San Jose State,” Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon said on X. “It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”

“I applaud @BoiseState for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act,” Idaho Governor Brad Little said on X. “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.