San Jose State University’s volleyball team has become the focal point of a national debate over transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports. This has sparked a wave of forfeits, a coach suspension, and public statements from high-profile political figures.
Several Mountain West Conference (MWC) teams, including Wyoming, Boise State, Utah State and Southern Utah, have forfeited matches against San Jose State. The schools have cited concerns about fairness and safety due to a transgender athlete on the SJSU roster.
The forfeits began in October when Boise State and Utah State withdrew from matches with SJSU. Other teams followed suit, with players citing safety and a desire to protect the “integrity of women’s sports.”
In one instance, the University of Nevada’s volleyball team considered a forfeit before ultimately deciding to play, with players stating their solidarity with those who had forfeited but choosing to honor scheduled matches.
The issue gained widespread attention in November when President-elect Donald Trump publicly voiced support for the forfeitures. He framed the situation as a safety risk and aligned with state officials, including governors from Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.
Trump pointed to what he described as “a safety incident” involving the athlete, though San Jose State later clarified the circumstances of the referenced event.
San Jose State also faced internal challenges, suspending assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose. The suspension came after her public comments on Fox News questioning the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
The Mountain West Conference clarified that San Jose State’s transgender athlete meets NCAA and conference eligibility requirements. That means forfeiting teams will incur official losses, impacting their standings and potential qualification for the upcoming MWC tournament in Las Vegas.
The forfeitures and backlash have also raised questions about future conference policies and legal frameworks, as universities balance state-level political influences with federal laws regarding inclusivity in sports. Other MWC teams are expected to weigh in on whether they will participate in matches with San Jose State.
As the debate continues, the situation at San Jose State has become a flashpoint in the evolving discourse on gender and athletics, with implications that may resonate beyond the MWC.
