Former University of Nevada, Reno women's volleyball team captain Sia Liilii is sharing her experience of forfeiting a match against a team with a transgender athlete. Liilii's story is featured in a new documentary, "Hold the Line," produced by IW Features, a project of Independent Women.
Liilii and her teammates were concerned about competitive balance and player safety after witnessing the transgender athlete's powerful hits in online videos. A majority of the team decided to forfeit the match against San Jose State. However, they claim they faced resistance from university administrators who allegedly told them they weren't sufficiently informed on the topic. The university denies this claim, stating that the team was given opportunities to voice their concerns and ask questions. The university also stated that forfeiting for reasons related to gender identity would violate state law. Ultimately, the forfeit was attributed to an insufficient number of players willing to compete. This marked the fifth team to forfeit against San Jose State due to the presence of the transgender athlete.
Liilii expressed disappointment with the lack of support from the university but stands by her decision. She has since become an ambassador for the Independent Women's Forum, advocating for fairness and safety in women's sports. She joins other female athletes, including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who are challenging NCAA policies regarding transgender athletes competing in women's sports. Gaines filed a lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that their policy violates Title IX protections for female athletes.
This incident reflects the ongoing debate surrounding the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's sports, raising questions about fairness, safety, and the interpretation of Title IX.
The issue has gained political traction, with some lawmakers proposing legislation to address transgender athlete participation in women's sports.
