Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling on SJSU Volleyball Player Amid Controversy
DENVER — The sports world is buzzing after a federal appeals court made a pivotal decision on Tuesday, allowing a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member to compete in this week’s Mountain West Conference tournament. The ruling comes after a legal complaint argued that the athlete, who is transgender, should be deemed ineligible to play. The decision has sparked heated debates across the sports community, with emotions running high on all sides.
The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with U.S. Magistrate S. Kato Crews in Denver, who had previously denied an emergency injunction to block the player’s participation. Crews ruled that the players and others challenging the league’s policy on transgender athletes should have filed their complaint earlier, rather than waiting until the tournament was imminent. The appeals court upheld this decision, effectively clearing the way for the athlete to take the court.
But that’s not all. The players who filed the complaint also requested that four teams who forfeited matches against San Jose State during the regular season—citing objections to playing against a team with a transgender athlete—have those losses removed from their records. They further demanded that the tournament be re-seeded based on the updated standings. However, these requests were not granted, leaving the tournament structure unchanged.
A Policy Years in the Making
The athlete at the center of the controversy has been a member of the San Jose State volleyball team for three seasons. However, her participation only became a point of contention this year. The Mountain West Conference’s policy regarding forfeits for teams refusing to play against a team with a transgender athlete has been in place since 2022, according to the conference. Despite this, the issue has only now escalated to legal action.
Neither the athlete nor San Jose State has commented publicly on her identity, citing federal privacy laws. ESPN has also chosen not to name the player involved. The lack of public statements has done little to quell the intense debate surrounding the case, with opinions sharply divided on fairness, inclusion, and competitive integrity.
Judge’s Ruling Focuses on Timing, Not Fairness
In his ruling, Judge Crews did not address the broader fairness or safety concerns raised by the plaintiffs. Instead, he focused on the timing of the complaint, emphasizing that the Mountain West’s transgender participation policy has been in place for two years. He noted that the teams who forfeited matches were fully aware of the policy when they made their decisions.
“Injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo,” Crews stated in his decision. “Her playing is the status quo.”
The appeals court ruling came after the players filed an emergency appeal of Crews’ order, but the higher court ultimately upheld his decision. With the legal hurdles cleared, the tournament is set to proceed as planned.
What’s Next for the Mountain West Tournament?
The Mountain West Conference tournament kicks off Wednesday in Las Vegas, with top-seeded Colorado State and second-seeded San Jose State earning byes into Friday’s semifinal matches. The stakes are high, as the winner of the tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, which begins on December 5. The NCAA tournament bracket will be revealed this Sunday, adding even more anticipation to an already dramatic week.
In a statement released Monday, the Mountain West Conference expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision. “We are excited to proceed with the Mountain West Conference Women’s Volleyball Championship,” the statement read. The conference also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding policies established by its board of directors, which align with NCAA and USA Volleyball guidelines.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ruling allowing a transgender San Jose State volleyball player to compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament.
- The plaintiffs argued for the player’s ineligibility and requested changes to team records and tournament seeding, but these requests were denied.
- The Mountain West’s transgender participation policy has been in place since 2022, and the judge ruled that the complaint was filed too late to warrant emergency action.
- The tournament begins Wednesday, with Colorado State and San Jose State holding top seeds and byes into the semifinals.
As the Mountain West tournament unfolds, all eyes will be on San Jose State and its controversial player. Will the team rise above the noise and make a deep run, or will the off-court drama prove too much to overcome? One thing is certain: this story is far from over, and the implications for college sports could be significant.
Originally Written by: Katie Barnes
