Former University of Nevada, Reno women's volleyball team captain Sia Liilii recently discussed the team's controversial decision to forfeit a match against San Jose State University (SJSU) in October. The controversy stemmed from SJSU's inclusion of a transgender athlete on their roster.
The Nevada players privately requested to forfeit, following the lead of four other teams that had declined to play against SJSU for the same reason. However, the university refused, issuing a statement that the game would proceed, but players could opt out without penalty.
Ultimately, the team forfeited due to insufficient players the day before the scheduled match. The university, however, cited potential "legal ramifications" related to the Nevada Constitution if the match was not played. A statement from the university, exclusively provided to Fox News Digital, highlighted the potential legal issues arising from forfeiting based on gender identity, citing the 2022 amendment to the state constitution that includes gender identity as a protected classification. The university suggested such a forfeit could be viewed as discrimination.
Marshi Smith, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), corroborated the university's stance, stating that Nevada administrators had warned the athletes of potential legal action if they refused to compete against SJSU. ICONS is currently pursuing legal action against SJSU and the Mountain West conference for their handling of the situation.
The controversy escalated into a national debate, attracting political attention in the weeks leading up to the November elections. Liilii and other Nevada players publicly criticized the university’s decision. They even hosted prominent political figures like Tulsi Gabbard and Sam Brown.
Initially, the match venue was changed from Reno to San Jose, purportedly for the "well-being" of everyone involved. However, the forfeit followed shortly after. The Nevada team finished the season with a 1-7 record following the loss.
Liilii, in a tearful press conference, recounted feeling "unsafe and dismissed" by school officials who allegedly disregarded the team's concerns and questioned their understanding of the situation. Teammate Masyn Navarro added that players were encouraged to remain silent about the issue.
Athletic director Stephanie Rempe denied these allegations in a statement, while apologizing for the way the team was informed about the university's decision to proceed with the match. She maintained that the university supported the players' right to participate or not.
Liilii is now among 11 current and former Mountain West volleyball players involved in a lawsuit against SJSU and the conference. The lawsuit, led by SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser, challenges the handling of the transgender athlete's participation. Slusser is also involved in a separate lawsuit against the NCAA regarding her experience sharing team facilities with the transgender athlete without being informed of the athlete's birth sex.
Smith highlighted the fear of retaliation among athletes who speak out against the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, emphasizing their constitutional right to free speech and protest without fear of reprisal.
