The Boise State women's volleyball team has withdrawn from the Mountain West Conference tournament after their opponent, San Jose State University (SJSU), had a transgender athlete on their roster. The championship finals kicked off on Wednesday (Nov. 27) in Las Vegas as Boise State qualified for the semifinals after defeating Utah State in the quarterfinals. However, the team declined to play SJSU after a court ruling allowed Blaire Fleming, the transgender athlete in question, to participate in the tournament.
“The decision not to continue playing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one,” Boise State said in a statement.
“Our team overcame forfeits to earn a spot in the tournament field and battled to victory over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not miss this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes,” it added.
Notably, this isn't the first time Boise State has forfeited their games against SJSU. During the regular season, the team declined to play them twice, while other Mountain West teams such as Wyoming, Utah State and Nevada followed suit.
Also read | American transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming can participate in the women's championship
SJSU advance
Boise State's refusal to play means SJSU has advanced unopposed to the tournament final, which will take place on Saturday, where the winner of top-seeded Colorado State and No. 5 San Diego State could face them.
In response to Boise State's stance, SJSU released a statement saying they were “disappointed” with the decision, but added that their team was preparing for the championship finals.
“At this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for those who continue to engage in civil and respectful conversations. We celebrate and support all of our students, including our student-athletes as they compete for our community this holiday weekend,” SJSU shared. DailyExpertNews.
Earlier this week, U.S. District Judge S Kato Crews issued a ruling allowing Ms. Fleming to play in the tournament after several opponents and Fleming's teammates filed a lawsuit against the team and tournament organizers for allowing the transgender athlete to play in the women's tournament. tournament.
The plaintiffs alleged that university and congressional officials violated their Title IX rights, which ensure that men and women are treated fairly in educational settings, including collegiate sports.
