The college volleyball world was rocked by controversy on Wednesday night when Boise State University made the stunning decision to withdraw from the Mountain West Conference volleyball tournament. The Broncos, who had fought their way into the semifinal round, were slated to face off against second-seeded San Jose State University. But rather than take the court, Boise State chose to forfeit, ending their tournament run prematurely.
The move comes amid swirling rumors and reports about a transgender athlete competing for San Jose State. While officials have not publicly confirmed the presence of a trans player, several Mountain West teams, including Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State, and Nevada, boycotted regular-season matches against the Spartans. Southern Utah also joined the boycott despite not being a Mountain West member.
Transgender Athlete Controversy
The heart of the dispute appears to center around differing interpretations of Title IX and its protections for transgender athletes. In August, Idaho Governor Brad Little signed an executive order dubbed the “Defending Women’s Sports Act” that challenges how Title IX is applied in the state. Critics argue the order discriminates against transgender women by barring them from competing in women’s sports.
“Biological males—men and boys—have physical differences that give them an unfair advantage when competing with women and girls in athletics,” Little stated when signing the order.
An unnamed player on San Jose State’s roster has been the subject of a recent federal lawsuit seeking to prevent her from competing in the Mountain West tournament. While a judge denied that request, allowing the Spartans to play with their full roster, the controversy has continued to escalate.
Boise State’s Difficult Decision
For their part, Boise State acknowledged the weight of their choice to withdraw. In a statement, the university said:
“The decision to not continue to play in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one. 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.”
It remains unclear whether the decision was made by a team vote or handed down from university leadership. What is apparent is that the debate over transgender athletes’ right to compete has reached a boiling point, with Boise State’s forfeit thrusting the issue further into the national spotlight just ahead of the NCAA tournament.
Ripple Effects for Women’s Volleyball
San Jose State will now advance directly to the Mountain West championship game, where they’ll face the winner of the Colorado State vs. San Diego State semifinal. Both of those teams played the Spartans during the regular season despite the raging controversy.
As for the broader landscape of women’s collegiate volleyball, Boise State’s withdrawal is sure to intensify an already heated debate. With passions inflamed on both sides, it falls to governing bodies like the NCAA and individual conferences to navigate a path forward that balances competitive equity with principles of inclusion.
In the meantime, the focus returns to the court, where the best collegiate volleyball teams are set to battle for conference titles and coveted spots in the NCAA tournament. But even as the action unfolds, the specter of the transgender athlete dispute looms large, casting a shadow over a sport grappling with profound questions of identity, fairness, and the future of women’s athletics.
