**UW Volleyball Players Join Lawsuit Over Inclusion of Trans Athlete**

A group of University of Wyoming volleyball players have joined student-athletes from other schools in the Mountain West Conference to file a lawsuit against the conference over the participation of a transgender athlete from San Jose State University. The plaintiffs accuse the conference of suppressing player protests and violating their rights.

The lawsuit follows the inclusion of Blaire Fleming, a transgender athlete who is now top scorer for San Jose State University's volleyball team, sparking weeks of controversy. The legal action was filed by attorney Bill Bock, representing the plaintiffs and the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS), in the U.S. District Court for Colorado.

The plaintiffs include Brooke Slusser, Alyssa Sugai, Elle Patterson from San Jose State University, Nicanora Clarke from the University of Nevada, Reno, co-captain Kaylie Ray from Utah State University, and University of Wyoming team members Macey Boggs, Sierra Grizzle, and Jordan Sandy. Also part of the lawsuit are Katelyn and Kiersten Van Kirk from Boise State University, San Jose State's associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, and Sia Liilii, co-captain on the University of Nevada, Reno team.

The lawsuit targets the Mountain West Conference, commissioner Gloria Nevarez, San Jose State University, and various officials from the university. The contentious situation has led to four schools, including the University of Wyoming, canceling volleyball matches against San Jose State due to safety and fairness concerns.

The lawsuit also contends that the Mountain West Conference hastily implemented new rules to penalize teams canceling games, countering the potential for player boycotts. Metadata purportedly shows the rule was quickly posted on Sept. 27, 2024, even though an email from Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland claimed it was adopted by the MW Board of Directors in August 2022.

The plaintiffs argue that this action, which they describe as an irregular and underhanded move, violates their First Amendment rights. The lawsuit seeks to challenge the Mountain West Conference's Transgender Participation Policy, which permits teams to compete with transgender athletes without prior notification to other institutions.

Bill Bock summed up the situation, stating, "The NCAA, Mountain West Conference, university presidents, and college athletic directors around the country are failing women. Because the administrators don't have the courage to do their jobs, we must ask the federal courts to do their jobs for them."