The Wyoming volleyball team has forfeited its match scheduled for Saturday against San Jose State, becoming the third team to do so this season as the debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports swirls around the Spartans.
“After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San José State University in the UniWyo Sports Complex on Saturday, Oct. 5,” a statement posted to the Wyoming athletics’ website read.
The school did not say why it was forfeiting the match, but San Jose State player Brooke Slusser in a lawsuit she joined earlier this month said that she has a transgender teammate who, she argued, has physical advantages over other women athletes. This news organization is not identifying the player named in the lawsuit.
Southern Utah and Boise State both forfeited matches against the Spartans last month without citing a reason.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon supported the university’s decision in a post on Twitter/X: “I am in full support of the decision by @wyoathletics to forego playing its volleyball match against San Jose State. It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.”
Michelle Smith McDonald, San Jose State’s senior director of media relations, said last weekend that the school would not comment on the gender identity of any students, citing federal privacy protections.
“We are operating our program under the regulations of both the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference. Our student athletes are in full compliance with NCAA rules and regulations,” read a statement provided by McDonald.
The Spartans (9-0, 2-0 Mountain West) are scheduled to play at Colorado State on Thursday, and as of now future matches against Wyoming and Boise State are still on the conference schedule.
Sierra Lopez and Christian Babcock contributed to this story.