Boise State Volleyball Squad Forfeits Game Due To Male Player On Opposing Team

The women’s volleyball team at Boise State University decided on Saturday to forfeit its game against San Jose State University, whose roster includes a male student who “identifies” as a female.

“Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled match at San José State on Saturday, Sept. 28. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Boise State. The Broncos will next compete on Oct. 3 against Air Force,” Boise State said in a statement to Outkick. San Jose State — whose roster features transgender player Blaire Fleming — is currently undefeated on the year at 10-0.

The NCAA confirmed the forfeiture in a statement of its own and appeared to criticize Boise State for not wanting to play against a male athlete. “College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America and the NCAA members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes in all NCAA championships,” reads the statement.

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Earlier this week, the Mountain West Conference was alerted by the ICONS organization of growing concern for female athletes’ safety and hesitance to compete against Blaire Fleming due to apparent physical advantages posed by a man competing against women, Outkick reported.

“Over the last few weeks, we have spoken with distraught student-athletes and their parents, coaches, and administrators throughout the Mountain West Conference (MWC) regarding a crisis in MWC women’s volleyball,” the organization wrote in a letter addressed to Mountain West officials.

Women’s rights activist Riley Gaines, who is working with ICONS with its lawsuit against the NCAA, issued a separate statement to Outkick regarding Boise State’s decision to forfeit the match. “I commend Boise State’s athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to forfeit their match against undefeated San Jose State. Some principles transcend winning on the court, and the safety and well-being of female athletes is one of them,” she said.

“It’s encouraging to witness a growing number of institutions prioritizing fairness and athlete safety over forced inclusion. I hope to see more universities follow the lead of Boise State and Southern Utah, standing up for what’s right and protecting the integrity of women’s sports.”

Boise State is the second team to forfeit its match against San Jose State rather than play against a transgender athlete. Utah State also opted to forfeit on September 15, though they have not released a statement on the move as if this report. The University of Wyoming is also reportedly considering a potential forfeit ahead of their October 5 match-up with San Jose State.

Fleming’s own teammate and SJSU women’s volleyball co-captain, Brooke Slusser, has joined ICON’s lawsuit against the NCAA over its transgender eligibility protocol. Slusser — who previously roomed with Brayden (“Blaire”) without knowledge of his being transgender — cited safety concerns in deciding to join the lawsuit.

“Slusser decides terrorizing practices and games in which a man is smashing volleyballs into the faces and bodies of young women at speeds of over 80 mph and making a mockery of fair competition,” ICON’s letter continues.

Idaho Governor Brad Little praised Boise State for taking a stand in a statement released Saturday. “I applaud @BoiseState for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women’s Sports Act,” the governor wrote in an X post. “We need to ensure player safety for all of our female athletes and continue the fight for fairness in women’s sports.”