The Boise State women's volleyball team has opted to forfeit a game against a transgender player in the Mountain West Conference tournament, as it did twice during the regular season.
After defeating Utah State on Wednesday, Boise State faced the impossible choice of forfeiting its games against San Jose State (SJSU) and trans player Blair Fleming, costing it a chance at a conference championship. . Or compromise the principles that forced them to forfeit two games against SJSU in the regular season and play the game.
In the end, Boise State chose to follow the principle.
“The decision not to continue competing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship Tournament was not an easy one” Boise State Athletics I wrote in a statement via OutKick. “Our team overcame a forfeit to qualify for the tournament and fought for a win against Utah State in the first round on Wednesday.
“There is no need to give up this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
No matter who won Wednesday's game, there would have been controversy. Boise State and Utah State had their games against SJSU forfeited this year. Now, SJSU will wait for the winner of Colorado State and San Diego State, two schools that did not forfeit their game against the Spartans this year.
SJSU, the second seed in the conference tournament, reached that lofty position largely on the strength of six forfeit games, giving them an easy win and an opportunity to rest their players.
He credits Biden-appointed Judge Kato Cruz for putting Boise State in the impossible position it was in, having to choose between fulfilling its dream of winning the conference and defending its principles. It will be done. Judge Kato Cruz earlier this week dismissed a lawsuit filed jointly by Mountain West states and the state Legislature. The commissioner alleged violations of Title IX and its First Amendment rights. At least a dozen female athletes signed the lawsuit.
But Cruz said the request for an emergency postponement of the case is “unreasonable,” “disruptive, could derail months of planning, and at the very least could prejudice (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament.” I will give,” he wrote.
“The claimants have failed to meet their burden of showing irreparable harm, a likelihood of success on the merits, or a balance of harm and fairness in their favor,” Cruz wrote. .
Had the lawsuit been successful, the regular season forfeiture against SJSU would have been reversed and the conference standings would have been adjusted accordingly. More importantly, Fleming would have been excluded from the tournament.
The winner of the Mountain West Conference Tournament will advance to the NCAA Division I Women's College Volleyball Tournament.
