The Mountain West Conference volleyball tournament, hosted in Las Vegas, is facing unprecedented controversy due to the participation of San Jose State's transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming. Fleming's presence on the team has already led several teams to forfeit matches against the Spartans this season, sparking a national debate about fairness and inclusion in women's sports.

Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a vocal critic of transgender athletes competing in women's sports, reiterated his stance just days before the tournament. He emphasized his belief that student athletes should compete only against others of the same biological sex, citing concerns for both fairness and safety. Lombardo's statement underscored his commitment to protecting women's sports, emphasizing that his position is not political but rooted in his belief in maintaining separate competitions for men and women.

This isn't Lombardo's first time addressing the issue. In October, when the University of Nevada, Reno's women's volleyball team expressed concerns about playing against Fleming, Lombardo publicly supported the players' right to feel safe in competition. Initially, the university planned to proceed with the match, citing state anti-discrimination laws. However, after players voiced their concerns and alleged pressure from the university, Nevada ultimately forfeited the match, claiming an insufficient number of players.

The forfeitures granted San Jose State six additional conference wins, securing them the second seed and a first-round bye in the tournament. This unusual circumstance guarantees that the Spartans will face a team in the semifinals that previously forfeited against them. Utah State and Boise State, both of whom previously declined to play San Jose State, will compete for the opportunity to advance to the semifinals and face the Spartans.

A spokesperson for San Jose State confirmed that the conference is prepared for all qualified teams to participate, but also has contingency plans in place should further forfeits occur. These plans include the possibility of declaring San Jose State the conference champion if opponents forfeit in the final match. This situation highlights the complex and evolving challenges surrounding transgender inclusion in sports and the ongoing debate about balancing inclusivity with fair competition.