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Wyoming joins Boise State and Southern Utah in refusing to play SJSU and trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming

For the second time in the past week, a women's college volleyball team has refused to play against San Jose State that includes a transgender player in its starting lineup.

The University of Wyoming announced in a statement that the team would forfeit its Saturday game against SJSU, whose team features biological male Blaire Fleming.

Last week, Boise State lost to San Jose State and suffered a loss.

Previously, Southern Utah refused to play SJSU in a non-conference game as part of the Santa Clara Tournament.

“After a lengthy discussion, the University of Wyoming will not play its scheduled conference game against San Jose State University on Saturday, October 5 at the UniWyo Sports Complex,” the school announced in a statement.

“Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record the game as a forfeit and a loss for Wyoming.”

This is a change in stance from the Wyoming Cowgirls, who had previously expressed that they would face the Spartans, according to a report from Cowboy State Daily.

“The athletic department administrative/coaching staff recently discussed the matter with the entire women's volleyball team … including potential safety concerns,” Chad Baldwin, a Wyoming spokesman, told the outlet via email last week.

“No student-athletes expressed concerns about their safety.”

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon posted a message of support to the team on X.

San Jose State, led by Fleming, has yet to lose a game this season. They are 9-0 in completed games, 10-0 if you count Boise State's loss.

Earlier this season, Fleming was named to the Hawkeye Invitational All-Tournament Team. San Jose State won the championship 3-0.

San Jose State sent a statement to OutKick following the announcement of Wyoming's loss.

“It is disappointing that our SJSU student-athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied participation in competition,” the school told OutKick via email.

“We are committed to supporting our student-athletes in overcoming these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment.”

OutKick previously reached out to the Mountain West Conference, which remained largely silent on the controversy.

The conference referred us to statements from Boise State and the NCAA that the Broncos lost their game against San Jose State.

However, the conference added that “the Mountain West Board of Directors would need to decide whether to modify current procedures” if further losses occur.

With Wyoming becoming the second Mountain West school to bow out against San Jose State, OutKick reached out to the conference again to see if their stance on the matter had changed.

The conference did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This situation is quickly reaching a critical point as more and more women's volleyball teams feel empowered to refuse to compete on an unfair playing field against Blaire Fleming, who was born male but spent some time before her girls' volleyball competition in the High school turned into a woman.

San Jose State initially hid Fleming's true gender, even from Fleming's teammates, as Spartans volleyball player Brooke Slusser told OutKick's Amber Harding.

While Wyoming is the latest school to cancel a game against San Jose State, don't be surprised if more schools follow suit.

SJSU's next scheduled game is Thursday night against Colorado State.

Stay with OutKick as we continue to follow this developing story.

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