Transgender collegiate athlete in Utah fears she will lose San Jose volleyball title

The Utah State women's volleyball team will forfeit its game against San Jose State, apparently in protest of NCAA rules allowing transgender women to play.

“The university will adhere to Mountain West Conference guidelines regarding the recording of this game,” USU said in a statement on its website Wednesday. That statement was later deleted, but SJSU confirmed the cancellation to The San Francisco Chronicle.

Utah State would become the fourth team to lose a game to San Jose State this season, joining Southern Utah, Boise State and Wyoming.

The USU athletic department did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the reason for not playing the game scheduled for Oct. 23.

But Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and other state politicians quickly voiced their support.

“I stand with the students, coaches and leadership of (SUU) and (USU) in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball games against San Jose State,” Cox wrote in a statement on X.

“It is important that we create a space where women can compete fairly and safely,” he continued. “Our female athletes must confront this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports. It’s time for the NCAA to take this seriously and protect our student-athletes.”

The seizures came after a San Jose State volleyball player joined a class-action lawsuit over the NCAA's Title IX gender policy, saying she did not want to play with a transgender athlete on her team.

According to ABC News, San Jose State junior Brooke Slusser joined Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines in the lawsuit, which claims the NCAA is violating Title IX protections by barring transgender athletes from participating Allow women's sports, according to ABC News.

“If I had daughters and had to sit there and watch them play against a male player or be on a team with a male player and know that I could have done something about it and didn't, that would be my opinion after so “A really difficult situation for me,” Slusser told Outkick last week.

According to the NCAA's website, the NCAA's current policy regarding transgender athletes for each sport is determined by the sport's national governing body. In this case, USA Volleyball requires transgender athletes to notify the organization and provide “sufficient documentation to determine whether the applicant has taken the necessary steps to transition to their adopted gender.” This includes laboratory reports on testosterone levels from athletes over 13 years old.

Slusser and Gaines' lawsuit faced opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and other human rights organizations.

“We feel called to defend ourselves against extremist attacks on our trans sisters – attacks that weaponize and distort the language of women's rights to justify discrimination and bigotry,” said Shiwali Patel, director at the National Women's Law Center, in a press release.

After Boise State announced it would not play its game against the Spartans, SJSU issued the following statement: “It is disappointing to our SJSU student-athletes who have fully complied with the NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations to comply, the opportunity to do so is denied.” We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, safe and respectful environment.”

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz (R-Hooper) issued a statement Wednesday in support of the forfeitures.

“To the Utah State and Southern Utah women’s volleyball teams: We are behind you and cheering you on! “Thank you for standing up not only for yourself, but for women across the country – current and future generations!” he wrote on X.

This developing story will be updated.