San Jose State Volleyball Teams Sparks Debate Over Trans Athletes In Women’s Sports

San Jose State’s volleyball team has become the topic of national debate over transgender athletes‘ participation in women’s sports after being beaten by Colorado State in the Mountain West tournament, ending the Spartan’s season.

In November, U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Krato Crews rejected a request to block a team member from playing in a conference tournament on the grounds that she is transgender. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by nine team players against the conference, challenging league policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete posed a safety risk and was “unfair.”

Neither San Jose nor the forfeiting teams confirmed the school had a trans woman volleyball player; Crew’s ruling referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player and noted that no defendant disputed that the San Jose State roster includes a transgender woman player.

Boise State, which twice boycotted regular-season matches with San Jose State, pulled out of the conference tournament last week, hours after it defeated Utah State to secure a spot against the Spartans in the semifinals.

While the team didn’t discuss why they withdrew, a lawsuit was recently filed in Colorado by players from various schools against the conference and San Jose officials calling for the same transgender player, even naming her.

San Jose was seeded second in the conference tournament and received a first-round bye.

Colorado State chose to play San Jose State in the regular season and for the conference title. Even with the uncertainty of what might await, it turned out to be a fairly routine day.

Forfeits have marked San Jose’s season, limited protests, and the topic of gender identity becoming a political issue in an election year. Todd Kress, the Spartans coach, released a statement issued by the athletic department, stating, “I will not sugarcoat our reality for the last two months. Our team [was] prepared and ready to play each match according to established Mountain West and NCAA rules of play. We did not take away anyone’s participation opportunities.”

“This has been one of the most difficult [times] I’ve ever experienced, and I know this is true as well for many of our players and the staff who have been supporting us all along,” Kress said, “maintaining our focus on the court and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of my players amid the external noise have been my priorities.”

Participation of transgender women in women’s sports has become a hot topic ahead of the recent election in November.