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topicnews · October 5, 2024

San Jose State women’s volleyball team is at center of losing debate

San Jose State women’s volleyball team is at center of losing debate

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San Jose State’s women’s volleyball program has found itself caught in the fray of the politically charged debate over the rights of transgender athletes in women’s sports.

The Spartans, who started this season with nine straight wins, recently had to cancel four games, including three Mountain West Conference matchups canceled last week because Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State each opted for losses to add league games instead of facing San Jose State.

Neither school has stated why the games will no longer take place. But the presence of an alleged transgender athlete on the team is believed to be behind the decisions, and her status is sparking increased national media coverage from those concerned with an issue that will soon trigger further input from the Supreme Court could.

A co-captain for San Jose State women’s volleyball this season also joined a federal lawsuit last week challenging the NCAA’s Title IX protections regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports, claiming in her filing that one of her teammates “is a man who identifies as transgender and claims to be a female identity.” USA TODAY is not releasing the name of the San Jose State volleyball player because neither she nor San Jose State have publicly commented on their gender identity . The individual has played for San Jose State for the past two seasons.

Here’s what else you should know about the losses and the San Jose State women’s volleyball team:

The San Jose State volleyball controversy, explained

The San Jose State volleyball player’s reported gender identity was apparently first reported on the website Reduxx in April. The report was subsequently cited by national media outlets such as Outkick.

The issue resurfaced last month after San Jose State’s fast start to the season. The Spartans were originally scheduled to play Southern Utah in the Santa Clara Tournament on Sept. 14, but the game was abruptly canceled.

“The Southern Utah University volleyball team has decided to participate in only two non-conference games at the Santa Clara Tournament this weekend,” the school said in a statement to OutKick. “The Thunderbirds are committed to making the most of these games and continuing to build momentum for a successful season. Southern Utah has informed tournament officials and opposing teams of this decision and we wish them all the best for the remainder of their respective seasons.”

Why do MWC teams lose to San Jose State Volleyball?

Boise State has decided not to play its scheduled Mountain West Conference game against San Jose State on September 28th. According to league policy, any team that refuses to play will be deemed disqualified from competition. The forfeiting team is credited with a loss and the opposing team is credited with a win.

The Mountain West policy also states that for privacy reasons, a school is not required to proactively notify the conference or other institutions (conference or non-conference) of the status of a transgender athlete.

Wyoming announced it would not host its MWC game against San Jose State on Saturday, Oct. 5, accepting the loss. The San Jose State women’s volleyball website now lists the games as “No Contest, W in MW Play.”

Although neither opposing school indicated why they decided not to play San Jose State, the governors of Idaho and Wyoming expressed their approval of their respective state universities’ moves on social media, citing “fairness” in women’s sports .

“I applaud @BoiseState for working on my executive order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little wrote on his X account. “We must ensure the safety of all our athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.”

“I fully support @wyoathletics’ decision to forego their volleyball game against San Jose State,” tweeted Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon. “It is important that we stand up for integrity and fairness in women’s sports.”

San Jose State then issued a statement lamenting the situation as its women’s volleyball squad did not violate NCAA or Mountain West Conference rules.

“It is disappointing that our SJSU student-athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied participation in competition,” San Jose State officials told Outkick in a statement following Wyoming’s decision to give up. “This is what we do. “We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment.”

Utah State then became the fourth Mountain West Conference school to announce it would not play its game against San Jose State scheduled for Oct. 23.

“The university will adhere to Mountain West Conference guidelines regarding the recording of this game,” Utah State said in a statement.

“I stand with the students, coaches and leadership of (Southern Utah and Utah State) in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball games against San Jose State,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wrote on social media. “It is important that we create a space where women can compete fairly and safely.”

“It’s devastating for trans athletes.”

Colorado State played its scheduled game against San Jose State on Thursday night in Fort Collins, Colorado, with the Rams handing San Jose State its first loss of the season. San Jose State coach Todd Kress told reporters afterward that he went to Colorado State coach Emily Kagan and asked after the game, “Should I thank you for playing against us?” ?”

“I meant that seriously, because of course we are disappointed that we are missing out on opportunities to play,” Kress said, “but it is not just us who are losing opportunities to play. It’s the people who choose not to play against us and that’s very unfortunate when it comes to these young women who have earned the right to step on the court and play.”

Schuyler Bailar, who became the first transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA Division I men’s team in 2015 when he swam for Harvard and is now one of the most vocal and powerful athletes advocating for the trans community, called the Treatment of San Jose State athletes “devastating.”

“The first thing I want to say is this is devastating,” Bailar said. “Not only for (the athlete) herself, but also for her teammates who are not allowed to participate in these lost games. It is devastating for trans athletes in general. It’s annoying and annoying. This shouldn’t happen.”

How San Jose State volleyball fits into the NCAA’s transgender lawsuit and Supreme Court case

What happens to women’s volleyball at San Jose State could impact the future of transgender athletes in college sports.

San Jose State volleyball co-captain Erica Slusser joined more than a dozen female athletes on Sept. 23 in a class-action lawsuit originally filed in March in U.S. District Court in Atlanta challenging Title IX protections the NCAA’s approach to transgender athletes in women’s sports. The effort is led by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, an outspoken critic of allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports.

In her lawsuit, Slusser claims San Jose State did not immediately notify her that she had a transgender teammate and that the two lived together in a residence with three other teammates in 2023.

Slusser further claimed that the school told San Jose State players not to discuss their teammate’s gender with people outside the team, citing potential safety concerns from teammates and opponents if they shared the court with a transgender athlete split.

The Supreme Court has not yet made a final decision on transgender athletes in women’s sports, but experts believe this case could ultimately prompt the court to issue an opinion given the varying state laws regarding transgender athletes.

In 2023, the Supreme Court allowed a 12-year-old transgender girl to compete on girls’ middle school cross country and track teams in West Virginia, denying the state’s request to enforce a law barring transgender girls from playing in Bans girls teams. sports teams in public high schools and colleges, while legal challenges to the law continued in lower courts. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled last April that Title IX allows the transgender girl to participate.

When is the next game for San Jose State women’s volleyball?

San Jose State is scheduled to face San Diego State on October 10th in the Mountain West Conference. The game is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. ET. The game was still scheduled to take place on Friday.

Contributor: Mike Freeman

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