The University of Wyoming has confirmed its readiness to comply with the NCAA’s newly implemented policy banning biological males from competing in women’s sports, Cowboy State Daily reports.
The change, announced on Thursday, follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which threatens to withdraw federal funding from institutions that allow males to participate in women’s competitions.
Under the updated NCAA rules, transgender athletes are still permitted to train with women’s teams, but they are prohibited from taking part in formal competitions. Schools that do not adhere to the policy could risk losing financial support.
University of Wyoming spokesperson Chad Baldwin stated in an interview that the university would have “no problem complying” with the new regulations but declined to offer further comment.
This development comes after a contentious period last fall, when the University of Wyoming and other schools in the Mountain West Conference forfeited matches against San Jose State University (SJSU) due to a transgender player, Blaire Fleming, being listed on the SJSU women’s volleyball team. The controversy sparked lawsuits from some UW athletes who, along with players from other schools, argued that the conference’s rules were discriminatory and unfair, especially the stipulation requiring them to forfeit games.
As of Thursday, the case remains under federal court review.
The university’s decision to comply with the NCAA’s new policy coincides with ongoing discussions in both federal and state legislatures. In Wyoming, several bills have been introduced in the state legislature to address participation by transgender athletes in women’s sports. These state-level bills differ from federal proposals in that they would allow individuals to sue schools if they believe harm has been done by the inclusion of transgender athletes.
State Senator Wendy Schuler, R-Evanston, who sponsored a limited ban on transgender sports participation in Wyoming last year, expressed support for Trump’s executive order and emphasized the need for state legislation to ensure the separation of collegiate-level sports. Schuler raised concerns over the potential uncertainty of future presidential administrations and the importance of establishing state-specific protections.
For the past several years, the NCAA has deferred to national governing bodies of specific sports to set rules regarding transgender athletes’ eligibility, but this new policy mandates a stricter approach to participation in women’s sports.
