Nevada Wolf Pack women's volleyball captain Shea Lilly, who spearheaded the San Jose State team's refusal to play trans athletes this season, has become the Independent Women's Forum's newest ambassador.
Late last month, the Wolfpack women's volleyball team held a press conference to express the school's reluctance to lose the game against San Jose State University. The team has been controversial this season with the inclusion of trans athlete Blair Fleming.
Several players, including Lilly, spoke about the situation on the day they were scheduled to play against the Spartans. The team captain burst into tears the moment he stepped on the podium and spoke.
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Xia Lily gave a speech at the forum. (Independent Women's Forum)
“When the news broke, I was shocked, like many of my teammates. This is not what we signed up for,” said an emotional Rili, who informed the athletic department that he did not want to compete. He spoke emotionally, noting that the program had refused to confiscate the item, despite the fact that the program refused to confiscate it. Fleming and the Spartans a few weeks ago.
“Our university made the decision on our behalf. They made a statement on our behalf and said we were going to play. We were not consulted. We made the decision on our behalf. We were not empowered and we did not consent,” he added, along with fellow IWF ambassadors. Riley Gaines and former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard attended.
Volleyball player screams after being forced to face transgender opponent, claims school pressured team to play
“It hurt so much to know that our university was putting us in a position that could potentially hurt us. My teammates and I both became very emotional. But, I don't know, words can't describe how it feels to be faced with something like this and know that we know we're all our own. . ”
Today, Li'ili'I is an ambassador for the IWF and continues to support efforts to protect women's spaces and sports.
“I am speaking out about this because men are not represented in women's sports,” Lillyai said in an IWF statement. “As a Division I athlete, I have worked hard all my life to realize the dream of competing at this level. This is a dream that I see in my nieces who watch me play. We don’t want them to face competition.’ It’s unfair to play against men who have a huge biological advantage! ”
Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown (left) poses with Nevada's Thea Lilly (center right) and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard. (Sam Brown Campaign)
IWF President Carrie Lucas added: “We are thrilled to have Lillie join our team. She has been such a courageous and strong advocate for women's rights and common sense. Now is the time for us to join our team. “This is the moment when we can win on the issue and guarantee solid action,” he added. I am confident that our policies and laws protect women and girls, and that with ambassadors like Lillie, we can do that. ”
IWF ambassadors actively shared their voices and concerns about the current state of women's sports, testifying before Congress about allowing biological males into women's private spaces and the dangers of changing Title IX.
Li'ili'I is a senior at the University of Reno in Nevada and totaled 709 kills as an outside hitter in her four years in college. She has 164 kills in 25 games this season.
Thea Lilly speaks at an IWF event. (Independent Women's Forum)
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Four other teams (Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming State and Utah State) have also forfeited all of their games against SJSU this season.
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