This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
Corrections and clarifications: This article has been updated to correct a headline. Three of the four colleges that forfeited are in the Mountain West.
2:30 p.m. Thursday update:
The University of Nevada has sent a statement on the San Jose State volleyball game:
"The University of Nevada volleyball team remains focused on its upcoming matches with UNLV and San Diego State and intends to play its remaining Mountain West schedule, including the match with San José State University on October 26.
"The University will continue to abide by the NCAA, Mountain West Conference and USA Volleyball rules and regulations as well as the laws and Constitution of the State of Nevada."
Original story:
The Nevada volleyball team has not yet said whether it will play the scheduled match against San Jose State University after four schools forfeited in an apparent protest against NCAA rules that allow transgender women to complete.
Utah State University, Southern Utah University, Boise State University and the University of Wyoming all canceled matches with San Jose State, taking a loss.
San Jose State says its team is in compliance with all NCAA rules.
Nevada is scheduled to play the Spartans at 1 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Virginia Street Gym in Reno. The team is on the road and focused on the games immediately in front of them, assistant coach Jason Sterrett told the RGJ on Wednesday.
While the four schools posted vague announcements in forfeiting the matches, lawmakers in those states have cited the transgender issue in supporting the colleges' decisions.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon wrote on social media: “I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to forego (sic) its volleyball match against San Jose State. It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”
Idaho Gov. Brad Little praised the decision, writing on X, “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports."
University of Nevada, Reno President Brian Sandoval and Nevada Athletic Director Stephanie Rempe have not returned requests for comment.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo also has not returned a request for comment. Lombardo was one of nine governors in 2023 to ask the NCAA to ban transgender athletes.
The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that UNLV confirmed it will play its match against San Jose State on Oct. 12.
NCAA policy allows transgender female athletes to compete on women’s teams if they have been taking testosterone-suppressing drugs for at least a year.
In 2022, the NCAA changed its transgender student-athlete participation policy to require transgender athletes to undergo testosterone testing and meet sport-specific levels to compete in women’s divisions.
San Jose State is 9-0 this season and tied for first place in the Mountain West Conference.
The Mountain West teams in addition to Nevada are:
- Air Force
- Boise State University
- Colorado State University
- Fresno State University
- San Diego State University
- San Jose State University
- UNLV
- University of New Mexico
- University of Wyoming
- Utah State University
How it started
January 2022 : The NCAA updates its transgender student-athlete participation policy.
March 14, 2024: Riley Gains, a swimmer at the University of Kentucky, filed a lawsuit against the NCAA with 17 other athletes accusing the association of violating their Title IX rights. The lawsuit surrounds concerns with the NCAA's transgender athletic policy.
April 17 : An article comes out alleging San Jose State’s volleyball team has a trans female playing for them.
Sept. 14 : Southern Utah University cancels game against San Jose State in Santa Clara tournament.
Sept. 23 : Brooke Slusser, co-captain of San Jose State’s volleyball team, joins the lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging her teammate is a trans female player. The lawsuit said she discovered the student's gender orientation in 2023.
Sept. 24 : The University of Wyoming agrees to go ahead with game against San Jose State.
Sept. 27 : Boise State University announces first conference forfeit for Sept. 28 game against San Jose state. Idaho Governor Brad Little tweets his support for the university’s choice to forfeit the game in support of his “Defend Women’s Sports Act.”
Oct. 1 : The University of Wyoming changes their mind and forfeits the game against San Jose State on Oct. 5. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon tweets his support for the team adding, saying, “It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”
Oct. 2 : The Las Vegas Review Journal publishes that UNLV is expected to still play against San Jose.
Oct. 3 : Utah State University releases a statement announcing forfeit against San Jose State in Oct. 23 match.
Colorado State University promotes their volleyball game on Thursday against San Jose.
This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Nevada commits to SJSU volleyball game after 4 colleges forfeited over trans player
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