By Valerie Richardson - The Washington Times - Thursday, November 28, 2024

The Boise State women’s volleyball team on Wednesday forfeited its semifinal match in Friday’s conference finals against San Jose State, whose roster features a transgender player, bringing to a premature close the Broncos’ championship quest amid a battle over fairness versus inclusion in women’s sports.

Boise State announced it would discontinue its bid for the 2024 Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball crown hours after winning its first-round match 3-1 against Utah State, which set up a second-round contest Friday against the Spartans.

San Jose State received a first-round bye after clinching the No. 2 seed in the tournament, which runs through Saturday in Las Vegas.

As a result of the forfeit, San Jose State will move directly to the championship scheduled for Saturday.

“Decisions to forfeit matches are at the institutions’ discretion and are considered a loss,’ the Mountain West Conference said in a Thursday statement. “San Jose State will advance to the MW Women’s Volleyball Championship final.”

In a statement, the Boise State athletic department pointed out that the team qualified for the tournament despite taking two forfeits during the regular season against San Jose State. The top six out of 11 teams made the finals.

“The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one,” Boise State said in a statement. “Our team overcame forfeitures to earn a spot in the tournament field and fought for the win over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not have to forgo this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”

Boise State did not specifically name Blaire Fleming, the male-to-female transgender athlete who joined the team in 2022 and has been a top player for the Spartans this season.

Two Boise State players were among the 11 current and former college athletes who sued to block Fleming from competing in the championships, a request that was denied Monday by a federal judge.

The decision was affirmed Tuesday by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Mountain West Conference’s 2022 Transgender Participation Policy allows male-born athletes to compete in women’s sports based on gender identity as long as they keep their testosterone in serum below 10 nmol/liter for at least a year before competition.

That level is still as much as 20 times higher than the female testosterone range, which runs from 0.5-2.4 nmol/liter.

Fleming, a redshirt senior, has not commented publicly on the outcry. Advocates for transgender athletes argue that “trans women are women” and should be able to play on teams that align with their gender identity.

Those cheering Boise State’s decision included the Independent Council on Women’s Sports, which funded the lawsuit, and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines.

ICONS called the players “heroic,” while Gaines hailed them as “heroines.”

“Boise State FORFEITS the conference semifinal match against SJSU in protest of a man playing,” said Gaines on X. “They’ve made it clear some things matter more than victory. The BSU women’s volleyball team are HEROINES.”

Four Mountain West women’s volleyball teams, including Utah State, forfeited matches during the 2024 season against San Jose State.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little praised Boise State after its first forfeit in September, writing on X: “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.”

Idaho is one of 26 states that prohibit male-born players from participating in female scholastic sports, although the state’s 2020 law was temporarily blocked shortly after its passage.

• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.

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