Judge Rules Trans Athlete Can Compete

A federal judge, S. Kato Crews, ruled that a San Jose State University (SJSU) volleyball player, who is reportedly transgender, can compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament despite a lawsuit filed by other players challenging her eligibility. The lawsuit, led by SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser and supported by athletes from other schools, argued that allowing the player to compete violates Title IX and presents safety risks. Crews denied the emergency motion, emphasizing that the conference's transgender participation policy has been in place since 2022 and that the teams had previously acknowledged the consequences of forfeiting games. The ruling allows the player to continue competing, as several teams have already forfeited matches against SJSU due to the controversy. The case highlights ongoing debates about transgender athletes in women's sports. San Jose State reiterated its commitment to support all student-athletes and reject discrimination.