Boise State Forfeits Women's Volleyball Match Against California Team With Transgender Player
ByThe Boise State University women's volleyball team has allegedly refused to play a squad that includes a transgender player, opting for a forfeit loss instead.
According to the Idaho Press, the Independent Council on Women's Sports sent a letter to Mountain West Conference schools urging them to address concerns about a transgender player on San Jose State's roster.
Boise State forfeited its Saturday match against the California school.
"Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled match at San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 28. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Boise State," the athletics department said in a Friday statement.
The school did not mention the reason for forfeiture in its statement, but the decision was made just days after the ICONS letter was sent to member schools.
Earlier this year, ICONS also filed a lawsuit against the NCAA over the participation of transgender players in women's sports due to safety concerns.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little took to X on Friday shortly after Boise's announcement to praise the school.
"I applaud Boise State for working within the spirit of my Executive Order, the Defending Women's Sports Act," he wrote.
Little was referring to his August order, which directed Idaho public schools to obey a 2020 law that prohibits transgender women from competing in women's sports. Boise State University Lindsay Hecox has since challenged the law in court.