Women’s volleyball teams forfeit games vs. San Jose State

The University of Wyoming on Tuesday said it would not play a scheduled women’s volleyball game against San José State University on Saturday. The university said the decision came after a lengthy discussion. It acknowledged that choosing not to play in the game would turn it into a loss on the team’s record. Former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines said the University of Wyoming was the third school to forfeit women’s volleyball games against San José State because, Gaines said, it allowed a male player onto its roster. The other two universities were Boise State University and Southern Utah University.

What does San José State have to say? San José State told WORLD that its roster complied with NCAA rules. It also expressed disappointment that its students did not have the chance to compete with other schools. The school told WORLD it remained committed to protecting its student-athletes ability to compete in an inclusive environment.

What are those rules? The NCAA’s Board of Governors in 2022 established a rule aligning it with the International Olympic Committee’s policy framework. Both the Olympics and NCAA defer to the national governing bodies of specific sports. As a governing body, USA Volleyball has a detailed policy allowing transgender athletes to apply for participation. USA Volleyball sets limits for the testosterone levels of transgender players depending on whether they are competing as male or female.

What’s next for the University of Wyoming Cowgirls? The University of Wyoming will continue playing games against other college teams, it said. Its women’s volleyball team planned to play against Fresno State on Thursday.

Dig deeper: Listen to Travis Kircher’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about Riley Gaines calling on female athletes not to compete against their transgender counterparts.