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.

Boise State withdrew rather than play San Jose State, which received six forfeit victories because of boycotts from Mountain West opponents.

The issue resurfaced after San Jose State’s fast start to the 2024 season. The Spartans were initially scheduled to face Southern Utah as part of the Santa Clara Tournament on Sept. 14, but the match was abruptly canceled. Boise State elected not to play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match against San Jose State on Sept. 28.

The Broncos have already forfeited two matches against the Spartans based on moral grounds. Now Boise State must decide whether to do it a third time with a lot more at stake.

A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that allows a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member to play in the Mountain West Conference tournament after complaints said she should be ineligible on grounds that she’s transgender.

San Jose State University’s volleyball team is the latest flash point in a dispute about transgender players in women’s sports.

Twice during the regular season, the Boise State women’s volleyball team took a moral stand by forfeiting matches against San Jose State rather than competing against a player believed to be transgender.

Judge rejects request to sideline a San Jose State volleyball player on grounds she’s transgender

Boise State advanced to the semifinals of the Mountain West women's volleyball tournament by beating Utah State on Wednesday night

The San Jose State Spartans has received six forfeit victories because of boycotts from Mountain West opponents.

Boise State pulls out of Mountain West women's volleyball tournament, forfeiting semifinal against San Jose State