Pressured and praised: Nevada NCAA women’s volleyball team forfeits, joins boycott against transgender player

Female collegiate volleyball players are turning the tides against transgender ideology by taking a stand for fairness and safety.

In a statement released on Monday, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) explained its women’s volleyball team agreed to forfeit its upcoming Oct. 26 match against San Jose State University (SJSU), which has a biological male on its women’s team.

However, UNR distanced itself from its own players, even pressuring them to play by keeping the match scheduled.

“The players’ decision and statement were made independently, and without consultation with the University or the athletic department,” UNR’s statement said. “The University intends to move forward with the match as scheduled, and the players may choose not to participate in the match on the day of the contest.”

It added that UNR protects “equality of rights” and does not discriminate based on “gender identity or expression.”  

Riley Gaines, a prominent advocate of women’s athletics, slammed the university’s statement on social media.  

“INSANE response from [UNR],” she wrote. “This is the intimidation & emotional blackmail that girls face when they stand up for themselves.”  

The controversy centers around Blaire Fleming, who was previously known as Brayden, The Daily Signal reports.  

Fleming graduated from a high school in Loudoun County, Virginia, a district already embroiled in controversy over transgender ideology. 

Fleming initially played volleyball for Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina but transferred around the same time the state passed a law banning biological males from women’s sports. 

But now multiple teams are boycotting SJSU in the name of fairness. 

Boise State forfeited its game on Sept. 28, University of Wyoming on Oct. 5, and Utah State on Oct. 23. 

Wyoming and Boise State are both scheduled to play SJSU again in November. 

Meanwhile, notable public figures are supporting UNR’s female athletes.  

Famed news anchor Megyn Kelly accused the Nevada university of being “content to endanger [the women’s volleyball team] by pressuring them to play.”  

“The girls aren’t having it. GOOD FOR THEM,” she wrote.  

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo released his own statement on the situation.  

“I believe there are competition and safety concerns with this issue, and it’s irresponsible for the NCAA to put student athletes in a position of balancing their personal safety against the schools, competition, and sports they love,” Lombardo said. “The student athletes at the University of Nevada, Reno have determined that they do not want to play against San Jose State, and I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players.  

“No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe – period.” 

Even a member of the SJSU volleyball team gave her support.  

“Round of applause to the girls of the [UNR] volleyball team,” wrote Brooke Slusser, a junior transfer from the University of Alabama.  

“Deciding to go against what the school was forcing on you as young women and taking a stand for what you believe takes courage! Another great step in the right direction for women’s sports!”