Several universities, including the University of Wyoming, Southern Utah University, Boise State University, and Utah State University, have recently forfeited their women’s volleyball games against San José State University. The reason? They refused to have their female athletes compete against Blaire Fleming, a biological male who now identifies as female and plays on San José State’s team.

Standing at six-foot-one, Fleming, formerly known as Brayden Fleming, is San José’s transgender-identifying volleyball player. As of October 11, San José State’s women’s volleyball team boasts a 9-2 record.  Of course, it would be even more impressive if some of those wins didn’t come courtesy of forfeits.

Wyoming was the first to pull out, issuing a statement through Nick Seeman, the university’s assistant athletic director. “After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference match against San José State University.” Seeman also said, “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming.”

And that, according to Seeman, was all they were going to say about it.

Boise State followed suit, keeping their reasons short and sweet, referring everyone “back to [its] original statement” of forfeiting with no additional comment. Utah State University was similarly tight-lipped, issuing a statement saying that it would follow Mountain West Conference policy. Southern Utah University also kept it vague, citing their decision to participate in only two non-conference games at a separate tournament instead.

San José State University wasn’t exactly thrilled with the situation. Michelle Smith McDonald, the senior director of media relations for San José, expressed disappointment over the forfeitures. “It is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete,” she said.

McDonald added that the university remains committed to supporting their student-athletes in what they see as a fair, safe, and inclusive environment.

The NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), which oversees college sports, aims to promote competition that is both “fair and inclusive.” When it comes to transgender athletes, the NCAA has a policy that varies by sport. This means that each sport’s governing body gets to decide the rules for how transgender athletes can compete.

The NCAA is currently facing a lawsuit for “allowing men who say they are women to compete in women’s sports” in violation of Title IX. One of Fleming’s teammates, Brooke Slusser, has even joined the lawsuit, according to NBC.

The governors of Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho have all stepped in to show support for the schools in their respective states. Utah Governor Spencer Cox took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his solidarity with Southern Utah University and Utah State University. “It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely,” Cox said, adding that female athletes are now “grappling with this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports.”

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon echoed Cox’s sentiments, saying, “It is important we stand for integrity and fairness in female athletics.” He praised Wyoming’s decision to forfeit their game against San José State.

Idaho Governor Brad Little praised Boise State for its decision to forfeit, stating that it aligned with his Executive Order, known as the Defending Women’s Sports Act. He stressed that keeping female athletes safe is a top priority and that this is part of a bigger effort to ensure fairness in women’s sports.

The NCAA will likely remain under intense scrutiny regarding its policies as the heated debate continues about allowing transgender women (men who identify as women) to compete in women’s sports.