Nevada Women's Volleyball Team Forfeits Game Over Transgender Player

On October 26, 2023, the University of Nevada's women’s volleyball team officially forfeited their scheduled match against San Jose State University (SJSU) due to objections over facing a transgender player. The decision followed internal discussions, where the majority of players expressed unwillingness to compete against the player, Blair Fleming, who identifies as a woman. Initially, the university announced the match would proceed, but after further deliberation, the team cited a lack of players willing to compete, resulting in the forfeiture. This event marks the fifth such forfeit against SJSU, highlighting a contentious debate around inclusion policies in athletics. The administration at Nevada faced backlash for insisting on the match despite player protests, ultimately leading to the loss being recorded as a conference defeat. SJSU maintained that their roster complies with NCAA and Mountain West Conference regulations. In parallel, SJSU player Brooke Slusser has reported experiencing threats related to the situation and is involved in a lawsuit against the NCAA for not disclosing Fleming’s transgender status. The Nevada team’s experiences underscore the ongoing challenges athletes face amid evolving gender inclusion discussions in sports.