The University of Wyoming women's volleyball team became the third team in the nation this season to suffer a bye in a game against San Jose State University.
Wyoming joins Boise State and Southern Utah, neither of which provided a specific reason for the forfeiture.
“After lengthy discussions, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San Jose State,” the volleyball program said in a statement Tuesday. “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record this game as a forfeit and loss to Wyoming.”
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Transgender athlete Blair Fleming played three seasons at SJSU after previously playing at Coastal Carolina. (San Jose State University)
Blair Fleming, a transgender woman, plays for San Jose State University's team. Fleming is a redshirt junior at San Jose State University, where he plays as an outside hitter and right-side hitter and previously played at Coastal Carolina before playing two seasons at SJSU.
San Jose State complied. Statement to OutKick on tuesday.
“It is unfortunate that SJSU student-athletes who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations are being denied the opportunity to compete. We are committed to helping our student-athletes overcome these challenges and support their athletic ability. “We are committed to creating an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment,” the statement said.
Brooke Slusser, a member of the San Jose women's volleyball team, joined 18 other athletes. sue the NCAA About current gender identity policy. Slusser, who transferred to San Jose, became concerned for his safety after discovering one of his new teammates was transgender, according to the complaint.
According to court documents, Slusser claimed he didn't know Fleming was transgender, even though they shared a room on a team trip. Slusser also expressed concern for the safety of Fleming's opponents.
“Brooke estimates that Fleming's spike speed was in excess of 80 miles per hour, which is more than she has ever seen a woman hit a volleyball,” Slusser's complaint states. It was speed.” “Although the girls were doing their best to avoid Fleming's spikes, they were still unable to fully protect themselves.”
former NCAA swimmer Riley GainesBoise State, who is also pursuing a lawsuit against the NCAA for having to play and share a locker room with transgender biological male opponent Leah Thomas, said in a statement to FOX News Digital that He praised the university for being the second program to refuse to compete with San Jose State. September 27th.
“I commend Boise State's athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to cancel the game against undefeated San Jose State,” Gaines said in a statement to FOX News Digital.
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Riley Gaines is sworn into office during a hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health and Financial Services at the Capitol on December 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“There are principles that go beyond winning on the court, and the safety and health of female athletes is one of them. It's encouraging to see more universities prioritize equity and athlete safety over mandatory participation. I look forward to seeing more universities follow these principles.'' Boise State and Southern Utah are leaders in standing up for what's right and defending the integrity of women's sports. ”
Utah Governor Brad Little also praised Boise State's decision. Little's home state of Utah is one of the most vocal states in the nation against transgender participation in women's sports.
On August 28, Little signed an executive order implementing the Women's Sports Defense Act, which issues new protocols to the state's public schools to promote transgender exclusion in women's sports.
In an exclusive interview with FOX News Digital on Aug. 30, Little didn't rule out implementing gender eligibility testing for all women's and women's sports teams, but said there is really good evidence that it is necessary. He added that it would be necessary.
“From a national perspective, there is a small group of radicals who are trying to implement changes to the rules that are already there. “We will continue to take aggressive action as the state of Idaho to legally protect our female athletes and the great strides made thanks to Title IX.” ”
In April, the Biden administration announced sweeping regulations clarifying that Title IX's prohibition on “sex” discrimination in schools also includes discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and “pregnancy or related conditions.” did.
rule The law, which went into effect on August 1, states for the first time: Discrimination on the basis of gender includes acts related to a person's sexuality Gender identity. The Biden administration argued that the regulation did not address exercise eligibility. However, several experts evidence presented Biden told Fox News Digital in June that his claims would not result in more biological males participating in women's sports, and that his proposal would ultimately result in more biological males participating in women's sports. He argued that it would be.
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U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris head to an event on gun violence in the East Room of the White House on September 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
But the current administration's efforts have faced fierce resistance from Republicans like Little, and individual schools and teams are now holding protests.
On August 16th, supreme court In a 5-4 vote, they rejected the Biden administration's emergency request to implement parts of the new rules, including protections against discrimination for transgender students under Title IX.
Now Wyoming, southern Utah and Boise State have joined the resistance.
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