The Wyoming Cowgirls and the Utah State Aggies, seen here playing each other this season in Logan, have both forfeited matches against San Jose State Volleyball and have players represented in the lawsuit.  (PHOTO PROVIDED BY LORENE HALE)

The University of Wyoming Volleyball team announced last week that the team would forfeit a second match against San Jose State scheduled for November 14. On Wednesday, November 13 it was announced via multiple news outlets that players from multiple schools including UW would be part of a lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference and Commissioner Gloria Nevarez over the participation of a transgender player on the SJSU team.

The lawsuit was filed in Colorado  with the women asking for financial damages and an emergency injection ahead of the Mountain West Women’s Volleyball Tournament to be held in Las Vegas on November 27. The lawsuit wants senior outside hitter, Blaire Fleming, to be banned from traveling to the tournament. The plaintiffs include SJSU co-captain Brook Slusser and a former assistant coach at the school, along with at least one player from the four schools that have forfeited a combined six games to San Jose State this season, all in protest of the transgender issue. Along with Wyoming, those schools include Boise State, the University of Nevada and Utah State.

Wyoming is scheduled to play at Fresno State on Saturday, November 16.

• Wyoming leaders supporting the forfeits

Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon as well as the entire Wyoming congressional delegation supported the decision for UW to forfeit the matches. U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman, Senator Cynthia Lummis and Senator John Barasso all voiced their opinions on the social platform X in early October after Wyoming’s first forfeited match.