The women’s volleyball program at San Jose State has become embroiled in the contentious debate surrounding the rights of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The Spartans started the season strong, winning their first nine matches. Recently, however, four matches were canceled, including three against Mountain West Conference teams that chose to forfeit instead of facing San Jose State. Schools like Boise State, Wyoming, and Utah State made this decision over the past week.

The reasons for these forfeits have not been disclosed. However, it’s believed that the presence of a reported transgender athlete on San Jose State’s team has influenced these choices, attracting significant media attention and fueling discussions that may reach the Supreme Court soon.

This season’s co-captain for the San Jose State women’s volleyball team also joined a federal lawsuit challenging NCAA Title IX provisions as they pertain to transgender athletes. In her filing, she claims that a teammate is transgender. YSL News has chosen not to reveal the name of this volleyball player, as neither she nor the university has publicly discussed her gender identity. This player has previously competed for San Jose State for two seasons.

Here’s what else to know about the forfeits and the San Jose State women’s volleyball team:

Overview of the San Jose State volleyball situation

Word about the gender identity of the San Jose State volleyball player was initially reported in April by a site called Reduxx, with other national news sources like Outkick later referencing this report.

The topic returned to the forefront last month after the Spartans’ impressive start. They were supposed to compete against Southern Utah on September 14 during the Santa Clara Tournament, but that match was unexpectedly called off.

Southern Utah University stated, “The Southern Utah University volleyball team has decided to only participate in two non-conference matches at the Santa Clara Tournament this weekend. The Thunderbirds are focused on these games to build their success this season. They have notified the tournament organizers and other teams of this choice and wish them the best for the rest of their seasons.”

Reasons for MWC teams forfeiting against San Jose State volleyball

Boise State opted not to play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match against San Jose State on September 28. According to league rules, a team that refuses to compete is considered to have forfeited the match. The forfeiting team receives a loss, while the opposing team gets a win.

Mountain West regulations state that schools are not required to inform the conference or other institutions about the situation of a transgender student-athlete due to privacy concerns.

Wyoming then announced it would also forfeit its match against San Jose State on October 5. San Jose State’s women’s volleyball site now lists these games as “no contest, W in MW play.”

Although the reasons for the forfeits were not made clear by either school, the governors of Idaho and Wyoming expressed their approval for these actions on social media, citing the need for “fairness” in women’s sports.

Idaho Governor Brad Little tweeted his support for Boise State’s decision, stating, “I applaud @BoiseState for acting in line with my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act. It’s vital to ensure player safety for all our female athletes and continue pursuing fairness in women’s sports.”

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon also backed his state’s decision, tweeting, “I fully support @wyoathletics’ choice to not compete against San Jose State. It’s essential that we advocate for integrity and fairness in women’s sports.”

In response, San Jose State expressed disappointment over the situation, emphasizing that their women’s volleyball roster complies with NCAA and Mountain West Conference regulations.

“It is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who adhere to NCAA and Mountain West guidelines, are being prevented from competing,” stated San Jose State officials following Wyoming’s forfeiture. “We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges, ensuring they can compete in an inclusive and respectful environment.”

Utah State later became the fourth Mountain West school to announce it would not compete against San Jose State on October 23.

In a statement, Utah State said, “The University will follow Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded.”

Utah Governor Spencer Cox expressed his support for Southern Utah and Utah State’s decisions, stating on social media, “I stand with the students, coaches, and leadership at (Southern Utah and Utah State) in choosing not to play their matches against San Jose State. It is critical to maintain fair and safe spaces for women to compete.”

‘It’s heartbreaking for trans athletes’

In contrast, Colorado State played against San Jose State in Fort Collins, handing the Spartans their first loss of the season. After the game, San Jose State coach Todd Kress approached Colorado State coach Emily Kagan and jokingly asked, “Should I thank you for playing us?”

Kress clarified he genuinely meant it, saying, “While we’re disappointed about missing out on playing opportunities, it’s not just us who are losing chances to compete.”

“It’s disappointing that some teams opt not to compete against us, especially considering the young women who have worked hard to deserve their chance to play on the court.”

Schuyler Bailar, who made history in 2015 as the first transgender athlete to swim for a Division I men’s team at Harvard, has become a prominent advocate for the transgender community. He described the situation facing the San Jose State athlete as “devastating.”

“First and foremost, this is heartbreaking,” Bailar remarked. “It’s not just tough for her, but also for her teammates who miss out on those games. This is truly damaging for transgender athletes as a whole. It’s infuriating and unacceptable. This should not happen.”

How San Jose State volleyball is connected to NCAA transgender lawsuit, Supreme Court case

The circumstances surrounding the San Jose State women’s volleyball team may significantly impact the future of transgender participation in college sports.

On September 23, Erica Slusser, co-captain of San Jose State volleyball, joined over a dozen female athletes in a class-action lawsuit filed in March in U.S. District Court in Atlanta. This lawsuit challenges the NCAA’s Title IX regulations concerning transgender athletes in women’s sports. The case is spearheaded by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, alongside former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, a vocal opponent of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.

In her legal complaint, Slusser contended that San Jose State did not promptly inform her about the presence of a transgender teammate, even though they lived with three other team members in 2023.

Slusser further claimed that players were instructed by the university to refrain from discussing their teammate’s gender outside of the team, citing possible safety concerns for both teammates and competitors regarding the participation of a transgender athlete.

Although the Supreme Court has not definitively ruled on the matter of transgender athletes in women’s sports, experts believe this case could lead to a significant ruling due to varying state laws concerning transgender participation.

In 2023, the Supreme Court allowed a 12-year-old transgender girl to join middle-school girls’ cross-country and track teams in West Virginia, denying the state’s attempt to enforce a law preventing transgender girls from playing on girls’ teams in public schools and colleges during ongoing legal challenges in lower courts. Last April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit determined that Title IX granted this transgender girl the right to compete.

When is San Jose State women’s volleyball next game?

San Jose State’s next match is set for October 10 against San Diego State as part of the Mountain West Conference. The game is scheduled to start at 10 p.m. ET, and as of Friday, it is confirmed to proceed as planned.

This article has been updated with the latest information.