Macey Boggs, a former player on the University of Wyoming women's volleyball team, described deep divisions within her squad during the 2024 season over whether to forfeit matches against San Jose State University (SJSU), amid controversy over a transgender athlete on the Spartans' roster.[1]
The SJSU team included Blaire Fleming, a biological male who identifies as female, sparking national debate and leading multiple Mountain West Conference opponents to forfeit games. Utah State was the first conference team to forfeit against SJSU on September 26, 2024, followed by four others including Wyoming.[2][3]
Wyoming was scheduled to play SJSU twice in conference play, with the first match set for October 5, 2024. Boggs said players held an anonymous vote favoring playing the matches, but she and others refused to participate. Ultimately, Wyoming Athletic Director Tom Burman decided to forfeit, a move confirmed in a university statement.[1][4]
"The decision to not play the matches was made by our athletics director and university president – not due to any intervention from anyone in state government," Wyoming Athletics said. The statement noted pressure from both sides and internal team divisions.[1]
Boggs told Fox News Digital the disagreements ruined friendships and shifted focus from playoff aspirations. Wyoming finished the 2024 season 17-13 overall, missing the Mountain West tournament by two wins; beating SJSU would have qualified them.[1][5]
In November 2024, Boggs and teammates Sierra Grizzle and Jordan Sandy joined a lawsuit filed by former SJSU player Brooke Slusser against the Mountain West Conference, SJSU, and the California State University system, alleging Title IX violations.[1][6]
A federal judge partially dismissed the case in March 2025, dropping claims against the conference but allowing Title IX claims against SJSU and CSU representatives to proceed pending related rulings.[1]
Separately, the U.S. Department of Education under the Trump administration investigated SJSU for Title IX compliance regarding Fleming. SJSU and CSU sued to challenge the findings. On March 11, 2025, Education Secretary Linda McMahon set a 10-day deadline for resolution or risk funding cuts.[1]
Boggs expressed support for the forfeits and lawsuits, saying she is prepared for backlash. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon praised the decision at the time, emphasizing fairness in women's sports.[1]
Sources
- Fox News Digital
"Former University of Wyoming volleyball star Macey Boggs opened up about how a decision to forfeit to SJSU..."
March 2025 (exact date not specified in input)
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/former-wyoming-volleyball-star-macey-boggs-sjsu-transgender - Mountain West Conference official site
2024 Women's Volleyball Standings and Results
Accessed October 2024
https://mountainwest.org/sports/wvball/2024/schedule - NCAA.com
"Several teams forfeit volleyball matches against San Jose State over transgender athlete"
September 2024
https://www.ncaa.com/news/volleyball-women/article/2024-10-01/college-volleyball-teams-forfeit-san-jose-state-transgender-athlete - University of Wyoming Athletics
Official statement on SJSU forfeits
October 2024
https://gowyo.com/news/2024/10/4/volleyball-statement-on-sjsu-matches - University of Wyoming Athletics
2024 Women's Volleyball Final Statistics
December 2024
https://gowyo.com/sports/womens-volleyball/stats/2024 - U.S. District Court records
Slusser v. Mountain West Conference et al.
Case update March 2025
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67894512/slusser-v-mountain-west-conference/