The Boise State University (BSU) women’s volleyball team has chosen to forfeit its semi-final match against the San Jose State University (SJSU) team that includes a biological male player.
This forfeit will officially end the season for BSU which had earlier forfeited two matches against SJSU during the Mountain West Conference (MWC) regular season.
Boise State released a statement emphasizing that the decision to forfeit was not an easy one but was necessary while they await “a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
BREAKING: Following a victory over Utah State at the Mountain West Volleyball Championships tonight, #BoiseState advanced to the semifinals where they were scheduled to play SJSU.
The Broncos won’t play the match, effectively ending their season.
Here is a statement from the… pic.twitter.com/px6NIRJYR7
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) November 28, 2024
BSU was one of five MWC teams that chose to forfeit their matches against SJSU rather than require their female athletes to compete against a man pretending to be a woman.
Outkick, which has reported extensively on the controversy surrounding biological male Blaire Fleming’s presence on the SJSU women’s volleyball team, stated that, “By forfeiting the match, Boise State ends its own season without taking the court for a spot they rightfully earned. ”
SJSU had gone into the MWC tournament as the #2 seed, due to six forfeit victories by teams who refused to put their women up against a male opponent.
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has remained quiet on the issue so far but if SJSU wins the MWC championship and advances to the NCAA tournament, it could put the controversy directly into the spotlight where the organization will be forced to address it.
With the Boise State forfeit, SJSU gets a free pass to the Mountain West Tournament Championship. A win on Saturday and transgender player Blaire Fleming is headed for the NCAA Tournament.
That’s a nightmare scenario the NCAA is praying doesn’t happen. https://t.co/CO1WVYZrV3
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) November 28, 2024
I applaud these young women & know it had to be a hard decision for them. They have been put in a difficult situation that risks their safety and their futures through no fault of their own. But until all women in athletic organizations refuse to play against deluded men, this will continue. Time to step up, ladies!