Boise State withdraws from Mountain West volleyball tournament match against San Jose State amid transgender claims
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Boise State’s women’s volleyball team has withdrawn from its scheduled match against San Jose State University (SJSU) in the Mountain West Conference Championship tournament. The decision came amid an ongoing controversy regarding a transgender player on the SJSU team. While Boise State did not specify the exact reasons behind their withdrawal, the move follows a pattern of forfeit matches involving SJSU, which has been the subject of heated debate and public attention.
Boise State’s statement, released Wednesday, described the withdrawal as a difficult decision. “Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes,” the statement read. Despite their decision, the team emphasized its commitment to fair play and its belief that the issue should be addressed with greater care.
San Jose State expressed disappointment over Boise State’s decision but reiterated its focus on preparing for the upcoming final. “In this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially thankful for those who continue to engage in civil and respectful discourse. We celebrate and support all of our students, including our student-athletes as they compete for our community,” SJSU said in a statement Thursday. The Spartans, who are ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West tournament, are now set to face either No. 1 Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State in the final.
This controversy revolves around a transgender player on the SJSU team, whose participation in women’s sports has led to widespread debate. The rumors of a transgender player first surfaced last spring, and the issue intensified over the course of the 2024 season. Several teams, including Wyoming, Utah State, Nevada, and Southern Utah, also canceled games against SJSU this season, reportedly due to the controversy surrounding this player. The five teams’ decisions were influenced by concerns about fairness in women’s sports, a topic that has gained prominence in political discussions.
Legal actions also played a role in escalating the situation. In early November, SJSU player Brooke Slusser, along with athletes from two other Mountain West schools, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the transgender player from competing. However, in a key ruling, a federal judge in Denver determined that the player was eligible to compete, and the decision was upheld by a federal appeals court.
The controversy has attracted attention from political figures, particularly Republican governors from Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, who publicly supported the teams that withdrew from games against SJSU. These governors cited concerns about maintaining fairness in women’s sports as the primary reason for their stance. On the other hand, Mountain West Conference Commissioner Gloria Nevarez defended SJSU’s player, emphasizing that the athlete met the necessary eligibility requirements to compete in women’s collegiate sports. Nevarez expressed her personal disappointment over the situation, highlighting the negative attention it has drawn to the student-athletes involved.
The controversy also garnered attention from former President Donald Trump, who mentioned in a recent town hall a volleyball match he had watched, noting a particularly powerful hit by a player. Although Trump did not specify the teams involved, a later statement from San Diego State clarified that the ball had not injured the player in question, who continued to play without incident.
For Boise State, the decision to withdraw from the tournament was made after a hard-fought win over Utah State, where they triumphed 25-19, 18-25, 25-20, 25-23, advancing them to the semifinals. However, with their withdrawal, the No. 2-seeded SJSU now advances directly to the final.
This situation highlights the ongoing tensions and debates within collegiate sports regarding the participation of transgender athletes in women’s competitions. The outcome of this dispute could have long-lasting effects on the policies governing gender and competition at both the collegiate and professional levels. As the controversy unfolds, it continues to spark passionate discussions on both sides of the issue, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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