Gov. Joe Lombardo calls NCAA ‘irresponsible,’ applauds University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball for prioritizing safety
Nevada Republican Governor Joe Lombardo commended the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team for forfeiting a match against San Jose State University over its male player, Blaire Fleming.
In an official statement posted on X Tuesday, Gov. Lombardo (pictured) stated that he “wholeheartedly respect[s] the decision of the players.”
“No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe — period,” he stated.
“As I’ve said previously, I believe there are competition and safety concerns with this issue, and it’s irresponsible for the NCAA to put student athletes in a position of balancing their personal safety against the schools, competition, and sports that they love,” the governor stated.
He called on the NCAA to “address this issue in a consistent way that protects the integrity of women’s sports and the student athletes who participate.”
Nevada Lt. Gov. Stavros Anthony also wrote in a post on X that the team has his “full support and admiration for their courageous decision.”
UN Reno is now the fifth school to forfeit to San Jose State due to its trans-identifying male player, as previously reported by The College Fix.
The women’s volleyball team wrote in a statement that it “stand[s] united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University.”
“We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” the athletes stated.
However, the Nevada players are in conflict with their university, who want them to play against San Jose State on Oct. 26. School officials have said the matches will still happen, The Fix reported.
Earlier this month, Utah Republican Governor Spencer Cox backed SUU and USU’s decisions to forfeit their matches in a post on X.
“I stand with the students, coaches and leadership at @SUUtbirds and @USUAggies in their decision to forgo their women’s volleyball matches against San Jose State,” he stated.
“It is essential that we preserve a space for women to compete fairly and safely. Our female athletes are left grappling with this difficult issue because the NCAA has failed in its responsibility to protect female athletes and women’s sports,” he stated.
He also called on the NCAA “to take this seriously and protect…female student athletes.”
Similarly, Idaho Republican Governor Brad Little backed Boise State’s decision to forfeit and called for “player safety for all…female athletes” and “fairness in women’s sports,” as previously reported by The Fix.
MORE: Two-thirds of U.S. adults oppose transgender females in women’s sports
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