In the fall of 2024, the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) women’s volleyball team faced intense national attention due to its involvement in a scandal concerning transgender athlete policies at San Jose State University (SJSU).
This past Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Education revealed that SJSU had violated Title IX. Earlier reports indicated that UNR was under investigation for how it managed a game against SJSU scheduled for 2024.
Exclusive information regarding UNR’s actions was revealed through testimonies from officials and records provided by April Chaney, the mother of a UNR player during this period.
Absence of Title IX Officers at Key Meetings
During a meeting on October 7, 2024, UNR administrators reportedly shut down the women’s volleyball players, informing them that the team would not be forfeiting its upcoming home game against SJSU. At that point, four other institutions had already forfeited to the Spartans due to the controversy surrounding transgender athlete Blair Fleming.
Some players expressed, in private, their desire to forfeit the game, but were told it wasn’t the school’s stance. Notably, UNR did not have Title IX officials present at that meeting, as confirmed in an email from Stephanie Rempe, the athletic director at UNR.
Former captain Thea Lilley described the meeting as a “horrifying” experience.
“It was a terrible setup,” Lilley stated. “We were told there would be no advantage since Blair was on estrogen and testosterone blockers. Many in our team felt that safety and fairness were compromised.” One teammate even expressed her reluctance to play out of concern for women losing opportunities to male athletes. Instead of receiving support, she was told to reconsider all the ‘facts’ before making a decision to play.
“It was quite upsetting that the meeting lacked a Title IX officer, and many assertions were made without proper backing,” she remarked.
Cheney found the entire episode “traumatizing” as a mother, leading her to file a Title IX complaint with the Civil Rights Division.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she told FOX News Digital. “UNR Athletics discriminated by not ensuring a Title IX official was present…I was really infuriated. It felt like the players’ concerns were disregarded because they didn’t align with the NCAA’s agenda on gender issues.”
“What I witnessed was disgusting,” she added.
Warnings of “Legal Issues” for Players Not Competing
Even after announcing participation against SJSU, Wolfpack players remained firm on their intention not to take the court. As the volleyball season progressed, the university was steeped in controversy.
Marci Smith, a former NCAA swimmer and co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), noted that UNR players confided in her about the pressures they faced for attempting to withdraw from the game against SJSU.
“There was considerable intimidation directed at the female students on UNR’s team to reverse their decision against playing at San Jose State. Methods ranged from emotional blackmail to potential legal threats,” Smith alleged.
UNR had previously acknowledged concerns about “legal issues” should players choose to miss the game.
Last January, they indicated that administrators met with the team to discuss possible consequences stemming from a refusal to play.
The Nevada Constitution was amended in 2022 to include gender identity under protected categories, following a vote by Democratic lawmakers.
Concerns about Players’ Interactions with Conservative Figures
After the announcement of players not participating against SJSU, UNR navigated a complex media landscape.
In an email concerning media outreach, Assistant AD for Strategic Communications Aaron Juarez expressed concern over players posing for photos with conservative influencer Riley Gaines and legislators from Idaho.
Despite these concerns, the players did meet and take pictures with Gaines and other political figures, including veteran Sam Brown and Senator Markwayne Mullin.
Discussion on Transgender Education in Athletics
An email from Lempe on October 24 highlighted future priorities for UNR’s athletic department, concluding with reference to “next steps in transgender education.”
Clarification was sought from UNR regarding this topic and its intended direction.
Game Status and Team Morale
Ultimately, the university affirmed that players were permitted to forgo participation in the SJSU game without repercussions. However, the match was relocated to San Jose shortly before the scheduled date. Subsequently, UNR decided to forfeit due to insufficient players willing to participate.
By the close of the season, the team had a record of one win and seven losses, resulting in missed postseason opportunities.
“This situation severely affected our team’s morale and distracted us from focusing on volleyball,” Lilley stated. “It was exhausting dealing with constant inquiries from outsiders.” She noted that the fallout also impacted her personal relationships.
“I lost friends over voicing my opinion on this matter,” Lilley expressed. “It’s unfortunate, but I couldn’t stay silent.” Cheney echoed that morale was extremely low on her daughter’s team, expressing anger over the unnecessary loss from a forfeit.
“It’s disheartening for them to be penalized like this. They shouldn’t face such consequences, which ultimately affected their standings,” she lamented, adding, “These young women are being bullied.”
In 2025, UNR continued to struggle, finishing last in the Mountain West Conference with a record of 8-20, while facing a federal investigation in 2026.
Meanwhile, Lilley embarked on a professional volleyball career abroad.
“Playing professionally has been enjoyable. I recently completed a season in Kosovo and I’m considering a move to Germany in 2026. This whole incident hasn’t held me back, although I’ve been asked about it. Interestingly, I’ve discovered that there’s considerable support from women globally on this issue,” she said.
Lilley, Cheney, and Smith are currently awaiting outcomes from federal actions against SJSU and UNR.
In early January, Governor Joe Lombardo pledged to amend the Nevada Constitution to restrict transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports. The proposed initiative would require all publicly funded entities to designate sports as men’s, women’s, or coed/mixed.
Response from UNR
In response to inquiries, UNR issued a statement addressing the above findings and allegations. It confirmed that it had appropriately responded to communications from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
“The University is dedicated to nurturing an inclusive, supportive, and respectful atmosphere for all students. We adhere to our obligations under state and federal law, including the U.S. Constitution and the Nevada Constitution, while remaining compliant with the rules of the Mountain West Conference and NCAA.” UNR reiterated the support for players opting out of games without fear of disciplinary repercussions.
“Our focus remains on providing all students the opportunity to achieve their academic and professional goals in a safe, welcoming environment.”
