5th Women’s Volleyball Team Nixes Game Against College With Trans-Identifying Star Player

A fifth women’s collegiate volleyball team — this time from the University of Nevada — announced on Monday that they would forfeit a game against San Jose State University rather than play against that school’s star player, a trans-identifying male.

“We, the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team, forfeit against @SJSU and stand united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, & Utah State University,” the statement read in part.

Former NCAA swimmer-turned-women’s rights activist Riley Gaines shared the school’s statement, adding, “University of Nevada becomes the 5th team to forfeit their upcoming match against SJSU. They’re the first school to specifically cite fairness and safety concerns as reason for forfeit. Incredibly proud of these girls. This is the way!!!”

University of Nevada becomes the 5th team to forfeit their upcoming match against SJSU. They're the first school to specifically cite fairness & safety concerns as reason for forfeit.

Incredibly proud of these girls???????? this is the way!!! pic.twitter.com/chEtM8CBKB

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 14, 2024

Gaines then highlighted the second half of the statement, which outlined the reason the team had opted to forfeit, saying, “Can we recognize how great this statement is? ‘We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes.’ Athletes defend themselves while the adults stay silent.”

Can we recognize how great this statement is?

"We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes." ????

Athletes defend themselves while the adults stay silent. https://t.co/9n9wsoaqHt

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 14, 2024

And Gaines was not the only one cheering on the University of Nevada team for taking a stand.

Captain Sam Brown, an Army veteran and Republican who is currently campaigning to be a U.S. Senator from the state of Nevada, commented, “As a father of an athletic daughter, I’ve got one clear message: Ladies, I’m proud of you, and I’ve got you! Your courage is admirable. America needs more leaders who will stand up and support women athletes on the basis of fairness, safety, and privacy.”

As a father of an athletic daughter, I’ve got one clear message:

Ladies, I’m proud of you, and I’ve got you! Your courage is admirable.

America needs more leaders who will stand up and support women athletes on the basis of fairness, safety, and privacy. https://t.co/hU4S2igVBn

— Sam Brown (@CaptainSamBrown) October 14, 2024

“We are finally building momentum. Courage begets courage,” Seth Dillon added.

We are finally building momentum. Courage begets courage. https://t.co/22GvRpiKmP

— Seth Dillon (@SethDillon) October 14, 2024

Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony (R-NV) threw his support behind the team as well, saying in a post on X, “The University of Nevada women’s volleyball team has my full support and admiration for their courageous decision.”

The University of Nevada women’s volleyball team has my full support and admiration for their courageous decision. https://t.co/CxmwS2dE59

— Stavros Anthony (@StavrosAnthony) October 14, 2024