Last week, athletic directors nationwide approached their volleyball coaches asking, “What would you do?”

This question arose from a lesser-known story causing a stir in the sports community, as teams in the Mountain West Conference—three so far, including Southern Utah, a non-conference rival—chose to quietly forfeit matches against San Jose State without explaining the rationale.

The underlying reason wasn’t hidden: A lawsuit in Georgia alleging that NCAA rules permitting transgender athletes to compete on women’s teams breaches Title IX had placed a current San Jose State player in a controversial spotlight, even though she hadn’t publicly identified as transgender.

The lawsuit was initiated by another player from San Jose State, co-captain Brooke Slusser, who discovered her teammate’s reported gender identity only after being outed in April by the website Reduxx. (YSL News Sports is choosing not to disclose the player’s name because she and the school have not commented on her gender identity).

Once Slusser joined the lawsuit, various advocacy groups and right-wing media began pressuring schools and reaching out to athletes, encouraging them to boycott. Amid these developments, politicians, particularly active in this election season, began contacting colleges, leaving some administrators—despite the growing prominence of discussions around transgender athletes over the past 2.5 years—uncertain about how to respond.

“These institutions are at a loss on how to navigate this,” stated an individual closely connected to NCAA volleyball, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of the matter. “Administrations are uneasy managing these scenarios. They’re constantly concerned about potential lawsuits, and within their teams, opinions on how to proceed vary significantly.

“Interestingly, many administrators and coaches I’ve conversed with acknowledge the existence of other transgender athletes within the sport. They’re leaving decisions to the players and coaches, and when it all blows up, it’ll be like, ‘Oh, we have a volatile situation at hand.’”

The situation became explosive even though the player had previously competed at San Jose State for two seasons without incident and at another institution before that.

YSL News Sports consulted 10 individuals connected to college athletics regarding the San Jose State situation to understand the decision-making processes of the involved institutions. All requested anonymity to discuss candidly the complexities tied to this issue and its ramifications, impacting win-loss records and playing chances for teams in a competitive conference.

“We are extremely disappointed by the match cancellations,” Air Force University spokesperson Michelle Smith McDonald expressed to YSL News Sports. “Our athletes are eager to compete.”

Regardless of divergent opinions on transgender involvement in sports, no one contests that the player and San Jose State fully comply with NCAA guidelines, which mirror those of USA Volleyball. This includes a year of testosterone testing within established limits before competition.

The Mountain West’s policy on transgender athletes, established two years ago, defers to NCAA and institutional certification of athlete eligibility and states that if a conference member declines to play against a team with a transgender athlete, they will be deemed to have forfeited the game. Additionally, schools are not required to disclose their athletes’ gender identities, and in this case, San Jose State cannot comment as the player has not allowed the release of her privacy rights.

This has created a scenario where key participants cannot openly engage with the issue publicly, allowing anti-trans activists and political figures to shape the narrative while the institution, conference, and NCAA remain sidelined. Following the eruption of the controversy and subsequent forfeits by Boise State, Wyoming, and Utah State, various politicians—including Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon, and Idaho Gov. Brad Little—lauded these decisions publicly.

In situations where some of the schools still wanted to compete, political pressure reportedly swayed Wyoming’s decision to forfeit. A letter from Wyoming state senator Cheri Steinmetz implied a threat of funding cuts if they participated in “the extremist agenda of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) or endorsed the notion that biological sex is changeable. We all know it isn’t.”

Within the Mountain West, decisions have tended to reflect state political alignments, though it’s uncertain how much political motives are influencing the opposite side of the debate. One athletics director from the league noted that their volleyball team discussed the issue with administrators, held a private vote, and decided their primary focus was winning a conference championship. Conference officials now believe the remaining seven schools will continue to compete against San Jose State.

Although Mountain West athletic directors recently engaged in a constructive discussion about the topic, as noted by those involved, the league finds itself primarily as a bystander. It has largely remained quiet—acknowledging the forfeits but not much beyond that—out of necessity. In fact, because the schools that forfeited haven’t disclosed their reasons, the conference is even unable to provide official commentary.

“Respecting everyone’s viewpoints is essential,”

“What’s particularly crucial here is the perspectives of the student-athletes,” remarked an individual involved in the discussions. “The room has 12 voices, each with differing views, and the opinions vary widely by state. Each conference has to manage the intricate politics involving all institutions and their local contexts. This subject makes it all especially challenging.”

The Political Nature of the Trans Athlete Debate

Currently, there’s uncertainty about what might transpire if Utah State, Boise State, or Wyoming earns a spot in the six-team conference tournament and competes against San Jose State. If this matter revolves around principles and the safety of women rather than mere political posturing, wouldn’t those teams need to likewise decide to forfeit and end their season voluntarily?

One athletics director from a different conference told YSL News Sports that their coach would likely opt not to play if San Jose State was on their schedule. However, if the Spartans advance to the NCAA tournament — which seems plausible given their forfeit-influenced 9-1 record — it’s highly unlikely that any team would choose to forfeit, even with a chance at a national championship at stake.

This inconsistency underscores a significant dilemma at the heart of this issue, as well as the overall anxiety surrounding trans athletes: Are people critically examining this situation?

“This complex issue merits thoughtful discussion, additional research, and careful policymaking, yet what is transpiring currently indicates a politicization of the topic,” stated Pat Griffin, a professor emerita specializing in social justice education at UMass-Amherst, who has consulted for the NCAA and various educational institutions regarding LGBTQ inclusion in sports. “Over the past few years, it’s become exceedingly difficult to engage in rational dialogue about this matter, which is deeply disappointing as it harms all women involved and, notably, the transgender athlete who’s at the center of this, even though she has not made any public pronouncements.”

“Her privacy has been thoroughly compromised in this situation,” Griffin added.

A noteworthy aspect of this situation is how limited its impact has been on mainstream culture, especially when contrasted with former Penn swimmer Lia Thomas’ participation in the NCAA championship in 2022 or the uproar surrounding Algerian boxer Imane Khelif during this year’s Olympics, which started with the unfounded claim that she was transgender and escalated into a wave of misinformation across the globe.

So far, the San Jose State controversy remains largely confined to online outrage, though there is internal concern about how that narrative might shift if the Spartans qualify for the NCAA tournament, particularly if that comes about through a series of forfeits.

Perhaps the Mountain West women’s volleyball scene simply lacks the visibility to attract significant attention. There might also be an element of public fatigue, as the electorate hasn’t reacted strongly to extensive anti-trans rhetoric in politics recently, possibly stemming from global events, like the upcoming presidential election and ongoing conflicts in various regions, making this a low-priority topic at present.

However, for anti-trans extremists actively and deliberately pushing this narrative and pressuring teams to refrain from competing against San Jose State, their strategy is becoming increasingly effective.

Minimal Resistance Against Anti-Trans Activists’ Pressure Tactics

Their approach involves seeking out these stories, regardless of how obscure or inaccurately framed they may be, and leveraging social media alongside political leverage as a form of intimidation. They label transgender women as men and assert that sex cannot be altered, while propagating misleading claims of safety concerns based on the player’s size — 6-foot-1 — and impressive spiking abilities, traits common among elite volleyball athletes. This narrative is misleading, especially considering this player has faced these same opponents for two years without any issues.

“To the average person, that portrayal might lead them to think they don’t want ‘men’ on women’s volleyball teams,” remarked Griffin. “But transgender women are not men, and many lack the knowledge to articulate this distinction effectively. This misleading framing has consistently appeared, even regarding the Olympic boxer, who was depicted as a threat due to her size and striking speed. It’s quite disheartening.”

“It’s a painful situation because, fundamentally, we are discussing young individuals, often just 20 years old, striving to engage in their cherished sport while fulfilling all necessary qualifications. The personal attacks against them are utterly unacceptable.”

Yet, anti-trans activists appear determined, exacerbated by the lack of substantial action from educational institutions and the NCAA in response to their campaigns.

University administrations often feel constrained, fearing backlash for favoring inclusion at the expense of athletes opposed to having a transgender teammate, or even potential legal repercussions. Organizations such as the Mountain West and the NCAA tend to rely on school bylaws, making their inaction seem weak while anti-trans factions maintain a vocal presence. Consequently, transgender athletes find themselves vulnerable, facing harassment, abuse, and the severe consequences of being outed if they never intended for their gender identity to be public knowledge.

This predicament is at the forefront of the San Jose State situation: While the athlete at the center of these discussions opts to keep her life private, her teammate openly shared her views on Laura Ingraham’s show just last Friday. Meanwhile, due to the school’s enforced silence, the local transgender community is expressing frustration with university officials for not showing sufficient support, despite the administrators providing resources discreetly.

Administrators in college sports often choose to ignore the issue, hoping it will fade away. However, those involved in the Mountain West have realized over the past couple of weeks that such avoidance isn’t feasible. Sooner or later, anti-trans activists will unearth new controversies, creating crises that can manifest in any sport at any institution.

Are they equipped to handle this? Certainly not.

Insufficient Preparedness Among School Leaders Regarding Trans Issues

A source connected to the volleyball community highlighted the dilemma faced by a current Division I coach who is openly recruiting a transgender player. While the overall response from their administration has been mostly supportive, there remains a conspicuous lack of genuine preparation for addressing such matters.

Does this mean they will offer a flexible area for changing if some team members feel uneasy? Will there be a strategy for communication if and when word gets out and activists start demanding answers? Will the state governor support the university president and athletics director if it turns into a national issue?

“These institutions are just not putting in the effort,” the individual stated.

Even if the anti-trans groups fail to change laws or NCAA regulations to bar trans athletes, their actions will likely deter schools and athletes from attempting to make it work. This is essentially their method of winning.

Currently at San Jose State, where the institution is supporting its reportedly trans athlete, two sources close to the team informed YSL News Sports that the environment has been so divisive and toxic that it is bound to affect performance.

“I genuinely believe the NCAA could greatly improve by offering the necessary resources these organizations need to support what they know is the right course of action,” Griffin remarked. “Some schools are considering recruiting trans athletes, but when they observe incidents like what’s occurring at San Jose State, I can understand them saying, ‘We’re not going there,’ creating a de facto ban even if it isn’t a formal one.”

“Moreover, many athletes might go as far as saying, ‘I will abandon my sports career because I refuse to be in that situation.’ Consequently, it hardly matters if states prohibit participation in sports, as these external groups are pressuring everyone involved. This is incredibly harsh.”

There are still crucial and logical discussions to be had, along with necessary research concerning the fairness of transgender women in athletics and any potential advantages that could exist, despite careful monitoring of hormone levels.

However, when an unknown volleyball player from a nationally insignificant program suddenly becomes the target of a deliberate campaign to discredit her after having an unproblematic career, something is clearly amiss.

Whether schools choose to resolve this issue through education, empathy, and respect for the rights of all athletes—transgender individuals included—or simply wish that the situation fades away, is not only a question of ethics. It’s also a practical one, especially in an environment where the next exaggerated trans controversy could emerge at any institution.