The University of Nevada Reno. (Photo: UNR)
The University of Nevada, Reno women’s volleyball team has announced it will forfeit its upcoming game against San Jose State University over concerns about a trans athlete, according to a media report.
Nevada was scheduled to play the Spartans in Reno on Oct. 26.
OutKick, a sports and culture website owned by Fox Corporation, on Monday reported that the members of the Nevada women’s volleyball team voted to forfeit the game over reports that one of San Jose State’s athletes is trans. The player in question has not spoken publicly about her gender identity but was doxxed online. The Current is not linking to those stories nor naming the player.
“We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld,” read the statement from the Nevada players. “We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes.”
Nevada is now the fourth Mountain West Conference team to refuse to play San Jose State. Boise State, Wyoming and Utah State have already forfeited games. (A fourth, non-conference team, Southern Utah, also refused to play the Spartans during a tournament earlier this season.)
UNLV played its scheduled game on the road against San Jose State on Saturday. The Rebels prevailed, 3-1.
UNR’s forfeit announcement came a week after the university’s athletics department issued a statement to Outkick saying the team “intends to play its remaining Mountain West schedule, including the matchup with San Jose State.” The players were not consulted before the athletics department sent out the previous statement, according to OutKick.
UNR’s media relations department did not immediately respond to the Current’s request for comment. We will update the story once they do.