The San Jose State University women’s volleyball team is set to face Boise State University Friday at the Mountain West tournament in what would usually be a celebration of athletic prowess and achievement.

As San Jose State University meets up for the volleyball final against Colorado State, San Jose is engulfed in controversy after other teams refused to play against them, with a lawsuit claiming there is a transgender player on the team.

Earlier this month, 11 female volleyball players, led by San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, and an assistant coach sued the Mountain West Conference and San Jose State University, alleging the defendants violated the U.S. Constitution and Title IX by allowing a transgender athlete to play for a women’s sports team.

No. 2 seed San Jose State lost to No. 1 seed Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference volleyball final on Saturday at the COX Pavilion in Las Vegas amid an ongoing gender controversy surrounding a Spartans player.

The decision amid a national transgender controversy involving Blaire Fleming, a redshirt senior who joined the Spartans in 2022.

The women’s volleyball team at the center of a national debate over gender and sports advanced to the conference championship after Boise State refused to play.

Colorado State women’s volleyball will play in the Mountain West conference championship game against San Jose State University on Saturday amid a national controversy that has engulfed the Spartan’s team over a transgender athlete.

The Spartans’ season finale sparks broader discussions about inclusion and evolving policies in female athletics.

Never before had we seen a slew of teams forfeit matches against another team with a possible trans athlete, like with SJSU. The post SJSU’s season is over. The conversation about trans athletes continues.

San Jose State’s season was marked by forfeits, limited protests and the topic of gender identity becoming a political issue in an election year.