Nevada schools ban trans athletes from girls sports in major reversal for state

Nevada Women’s Volleyball captain Sia Liilii shares her team’s decision to forfeit their match against a transgender athlete during an appearance on ‘Fox & Friends Weekend.’

The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) voted on Tuesday to adopt a new gender eligibility policy that bans trans athletes from girls sports. Now, only biological females can compete in the girls' category in the state. 

Nevada Lieutenant Gov. Stavros Anthony praised the decision in a statement. 

"I commend the NIAA for taking this important and courageous step," said Lieutenant Gov. Stavros Anthony. "Today’s vote sends a clear message: Nevada values and protects opportunities for female athletes. Girls deserve a level playing field, and this action helps ensure they can compete, grow, and succeed without having to compromise safety or fairness."

The change marks a reversal from the state's previous policy that enabled trans athletes to compete in girls and women's sports, which resulted in multiple controversial incidents of it happening in recent years.

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Exterior view of the state assembly building. Scenes around the Nevada State Capitol Building. (Ty O'Neil/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The state's constitution was revised in 2022, when Democrat lawmakers voted to adopt the Equal Rights Amendment, which added gender identity to its list of diversity classifications that are protected under state law. 

The law prompted a nationally publicized feud between the University of Nevada, Reno and its women's volleyball players in October. 

The players approached university administrators privately to express their desire to forfeit a match against San Jose State University,