The San Jose State women’s volleyball team expected to make headlines this season for their performance on the court. Instead, they find themselves at the epicenter of the heated debate over the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Transgender Player Sparks Controversy
The controversy centers around a senior player who has been with the Spartans for the past three seasons. Though her identity has not been publicly confirmed, teammates allege that she is a transgender woman with an unfair competitive advantage.
The issue came to a head when one of the team’s co-captains, Brooke Slusser, joined a lawsuit against the NCAA over its transgender athlete policies. Slusser claims her transgender teammate’s powerful spikes, some allegedly reaching speeds of 80 mph, pose a safety risk.
I get hit in the face in practice every single day — either blocking or playing back-row defense. This is normal.
Serena Gray, former Pitt and Penn State volleyball star
However, other elite volleyball players argue that hard-hitting spikes are commonplace at the highest levels of women’s volleyball, from both transgender and cisgender athletes alike. They contend the safety concerns have been exaggerated.
Mountain West Teams Forfeit in Protest
News of the transgender player’s participation spread quickly through the Mountain West Conference. One by one, opposing teams began forfeiting their matches against San Jose State in protest.
Southern Utah was the first to cancel, followed by Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State, and Nevada. None cited the transgender player directly in their decisions, but the message was clear. The forfeits were recorded as losses, disrupting conference standings.
Divided Locker Room
The controversy divided the Spartans from within. Slusser and associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose filed lawsuits and Title IX complaints alleging unfair treatment and retaliation for raising concerns. Other players felt their season was unfairly overshadowed.
We didn’t have to have the division of a team, or division of friends, or a division of family. But unfortunately, that’s where we are right now.
Todd Kress, San Jose State head volleyball coach
Shifting NCAA Policies
The San Jose State debacle highlights the challenges the NCAA faces in establishing equitable policies for transgender athletes. After Lia Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship in 2022, the organization shifted to sport-by-sport guidelines aligned with international federations.
But the path to eligibility remains arduous. Transgender athletes must submit extensive medical documentation proving their testosterone levels fall below certain thresholds for 12-36 months. Even then, they often face backlash and invasive scrutiny.
Fueling a Political Firestorm
The issue of transgender participation in women’s sports has become a political lightning rod. Since 2020, 25 states have enacted laws restricting transgender athletes, with several specifically targeting transgender women and girls.
Prominent political figures, including president-elect Donald Trump, have vowed to ban transgender women from women’s sports entirely, framing it as an issue of safety and fairness. Advocacy groups have countered with lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of such bans.
An Uncertain Future
For the embattled San Jose State team, an uncertain future looms. With their season marred by forfeitures and infighting, the Spartans turn their focus to the Mountain West tournament. The transgender player at the heart of the controversy has been ruled eligible to compete.
As the debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports intensifies, all eyes will be on how San Jose State fares. For the transgender athlete herself – thrust into a harsh spotlight through no fault of her own – the only certainty is that her personal journey is now inextricably tied to a much larger battle.
