By james art The standoff between the University of Nevada women’s volleyball players and the school is officially over. Nevada announced that it will forfeit Saturday’s match against San Jose State, which has transgender player Blaire Fleming.
As OutKick exclusively reported on Oct. 14, the players of the team announced that they would not compete against a biological male opponent.
“We, the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team, forfeit against San Jose State University and stand united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University,” the team wrote in a statement to OutKick.
While Nevada was the fifth school to cancel a match against San Jose State, they were the first to specifically cite fairness in women’s sports.
“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,” the players’ statement continued.
The University of Nevada has announced it will suspend its volleyball game against San Jose State and transgender Blair Fleming after the players voted not to play.
(University of Nevada Athletics and San Jose State University Athletics)
Despite the players’ announcement, the school said it would not cancel the game.
“On October 13, 2024, the majority of the members of the University of Nevada, Reno women’s volleyball team sent a statement to the university notifying the institution that they are forfeiting their scheduled match against San Jose State University on October 26, 2024.” a University of Nevada spokesperson wrote to OutKick in an Oct. 14 email.
“The players’ decision and statement were made independently and without consultation with the university or the athletic department.” The players’ decision also does not represent the position of the university.
“The university intends to go ahead with the game as scheduled and players may choose not to participate in the game on the day of the competition. None of the players will be subject to disciplinary action against the team for their decision not to participate in the match.”
Earlier this week, Nevada and San Jose State announced in a joint statement that the game would be moved from Reno (Nevada’s campus) to San Jose State’s campus.
That seemed to pave the way for Nevada to lose the game and for San Jose State to get a win without having to travel to Reno.
On Thursday, the Nevada women’s volleyball team travels to Fresno State to take on the Bulldogs. They lost 3-2.
The University of Nevada has announced it will suspend its volleyball game against San Jose State and transgender Blair Fleming after the players voted not to play.
(University of Nevada Athletics and San Jose State University Athletics)
According to OutKick sources, Nevada has provided two buses for the players. One bus was destined for San Jose State for players who wanted to play against the Spartans and Blair Fleming.
The other bus was destined for Reno to take the women home. The players chose to return to Reno.
Because of that, the school officially announced Friday that it will not play the game against San Jose State.
“Due to not having enough players to compete, the University of Nevada women’s volleyball team will not play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match at San Jose State on Saturday, October 26,” the school said in a statement.
That makes a loss for Nevada and a win for SJSU. This is the fourth conference game San Jose State has won by forfeit thus far. UNR joined Boise Statestate of Wyoming and Utah.
Instead of playing the game on Saturday, the women of Team Nevada will hold a rally to demand justice in women’s sports.
Riley Gaines, host of the OutKick podcast “Gaines for Girls” and one of the country’s most influential pro-women voices, plans to speak at the rally.
San Jose State next plays at home against Air Force on Halloween night.