Nevada

Nevada Week In Person | Nevada Week In Person | Roger Gros | Episode 88 | PBS

Published

1 year ago

October 14, 2023

Nevada Week In Person | Nevada Week In Person | Roger Gros | Episode 88 | PBS

A casino industry expert, Roger Gros, Publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine, is our guest this week on Nevada Week In Person.

♪♪♪ Support for Nevada Week In Person is provided by Senator William H. Hernstadt.

-Welcome to Nevada Week In Person.

I’m Amber Renee Dixon joining you from G2E at the Venetian.

This Global Gaming Expo our guest has worked as a consultant for, but his primary job is as publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine.

Roger Gros, thank you for joining Nevada Week In Person.

(Roger Gros) Thanks for having me.

I’m excited to talk to you.

-I know I mentioned that you have worked as a consultant for G2E, I believe, back in its infancy, the early 2000s.

-Right.

-What do you think when you see it now?

-Well, it’s grown so much.

I mean, when we started back, our first show was 2001, which was right after 911.

And it was a pretty sad experience in those days, but now it’s grown to be the biggest show in the industry.

And it’s just incredible.

You see everything that’s happening in the industry while you’re here.

-And when the current organizers of G2E say that the gaming industry is transforming at a record pace, what do you think they mean by that?

-Well, we’ve seen the revenues grow ever since the pandemic has wound down.

Revenues have grown at a record pace in almost every jurisdiction, including Las Vegas.

It’s continuing to be a positive effort for the industry.

People are coming back to the casinos in greater numbers and spending more money, which is exactly what the casino owners want.

-And why do you think that is?

-I think because they were so locked in their homes for so long during the pandemic that once it was over, you know– and this happened immediately.

It didn’t take it some time for it to come back.

As soon as they realized they could get out–and they went to the casinos, put the masks on, whatever it took–they went to the casinos and went back to their great pastime.

-And they haven’t left.

-No.

No, they’re still coming.

And the casinos have gotten much smarter in marketing and understanding how to do that.

So it’s really an exciting time for the industry.

-Is there any chance– well, there is, obviously, a chance, but are you getting any sense that casino operators are predicting any kind of slowdown in revenue?

-Well, obviously, that’s a concern right now with a slowing economy and the inflation that’s going on.

So I think they’re certainly concerned about that.

There’s several sessions at the conference this year talking about, What are we going to do?

But so far, we haven’t seen it.

I mean, just last month, Vegas hit another record.

So you know, crossing our fingers.

You know, if it is a slowdown, it’ll be a very mild one.

-Let’s talk about your past.

Your expertise in this area comes from not just writing about and publishing a heralded widely regarded magazine, but you actually worked in the gaming industry.

When was that, and what did you do?

-I was a dealer back in Atlantic City at the infancy of the Atlantic City casino industry.

I started in 1979 as a dealer at Caesars Atlantic City and then I moved over to the Golden Nugget when Steve Wynn owned the Golden Nugget.

And you know, that was a fantastic experience, you know, learning.

Steve Wynn used to come sit at our baccarat table when there were no players and just talk to us, and I learned so much from him.

You know, that’s how I learned about Jay Sarno, the guy who opened the Circus Circus and Caesars Palace here in Vegas.

And he was an acolyte.

Wynn was an acolyte of his that– it’s just an incredible experience working in the industry before I wrote about it.

So once I started writing about it, I had that innate knowledge of the industry.

And up until today, there’s really not many other journalists who have that kind of experience.

-Well, what did you learn from those individuals you mentioned?

-Well, you know, all the guys at Caesars early on, like Terry Lanni was one of my bosses.

Some of the pit bosses back then are now executives, top-level executives, or retired even, you know?

So, yeah, I’ve learned a lot from them.

And to be able to have worked in the industry, I think they respect me a little more as a journalist because they know that I know the nuts and bolts of how the industry runs.

-Working from the ground up.

I know you say it was a good experience, but there was a quote where you said, “To this day, I can’t even play blackjack, because of the bad memories the game brings back to me.”

-In Atlantic City in the early days, they had a regulation you could only offer a certain amount of $2 and $5 games.

And there were so many people in Atlantic City that there were people lined up behind every game.

And the pit bosses were old Vegas-types.

They would say, “Just dummy up and deal.”

You couldn’t talk to the players, you couldn’t enjoy yourself, and it was– it was pretty brutal.

But then I became a baccarat dealer.

I took a course to learn baccarat, and that was a completely different experience because you got to know the bosses, you got to know the players.

They wanted you to be friendly to the players, and that changed my whole attitude toward the industry at that point.

And at that time in baccarat– well, within gaming, there was a certain– or a lack of regulation in reporting a certain amount of bet, correct?

-Absolutely.

At some point during my career as a dealer, they instituted a rule that if a player bought in for $10,000, you had to report that to the IRS.

But for many years before that, the people would come in and play $10,000 a hand on baccarat; and throw the cash down on the table.

You’d be counting it out, and the hand was over.

And you had to start over and counting the next hand.

It was a very exciting time, because you saw all that cash go across the table, and nobody was reporting it.

-So a lot more action, I would imagine.

-Very much so.

You had to be a great dealer to really handle that kind of action because, you know, these were very high-level players.

They were important players to the industry, and you had to make sure that they were happy, you know?

And if they weren’t happy, you got in trouble.

-Those were the players that Steve Wynn was hanging around, I imagine?

-Yeah, no question.

-When you received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Communications from the American Gaming Association, you wrote an article about, you were able to get promoted from dealing blackjack to baccarat, but you weren’t able to get a promotion into a management position.

-Correct.

-Why was that?

-I had kind of a big mouth.

I told them what they were doing wrong, even though I was just a dealer.

I sensed that the players didn’t like what was happening, and– -What kind of things?

-Just the way they were being treated, you know?

Some of them were good players, but they weren’t good enough to be treated like royalty, like some of them are, the top-level players.

We had one guy who was a mobster that would come in, and there was a casino host that, that took him, you know, escorted him around the casino.

And he was kind of a pig, you know– -Yeah.

– –when it comes to that.

I didn’t like to deal to him, because he was so nasty.

But the casinos treated him like a, like he was gold, because he had a lot of money.

So, you know, I kind of voiced my opinion about that and other things.

And that kept me from being promoted.

And I thank God at that point that I didn’t get promoted, because I would have been stuck in the cycle of a much higher salary.

And as a dealer I didn’t make that much, so I was able to leave the industry when I did without taking a huge financial hit.

-And you already had your hands in journalism at that point.

How so?

-When I was working for Caesars, I saw this little, kind of, pamphlet thing that would go through the dealers’ lounges called “Casino Journal.”

And it was written for the employees.

And I had a little education in journalism, so I contacted the owner and said, I want to write for you.

He jumped at the chance because he was looking for people who knew what they were doing.

So I started writing for him, and that was how I was able to leave the industry.

As that magazine grew, it went from an employee publication into a trade magazine.

That’s when when I was able to quit the job and work strictly for him.

Although, I still took a pretty big financial hit to do that.

And having two children in those days, it was a little difficult; but it really was satisfying to actually work for myself in those days.

-And at what point did you end up in Las Vegas?

-Well, after I split from that company, I was working for G2E when it first started, and we started a magazine here in Nevada.

I figured, well, I had to be in Nevada to really understand what’s going on, so I moved my family here.

We were gonna stay here a couple of years, but my family fell in love with the area.

And here I am 20 years later.

-What is it that your family loves about Las Vegas?

-Well, actually, we moved to Boulder City.

So we were ready to move back East, and my friend Bob Faiss, who is a legendary gaming attorney, said, Come to Boulder City.

You’re the type of people we want.

And we went there.

He showed us around, him and his wife Linda, and we just fell in love with Boulder City.

You know, a small town, and the kids got a great education there.

So I was excited about moving there and, you know, staying there.

I still have to go to Atlantic City during the summer because it’s too hot in Vegas.

Sorry.

-Can’t escape that.

-Yeah.

-All right, more than 20 years you’ve worked as publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine, heralded as the industry’s leading gaming trade publication.

This allows you an editorial voice with which you’ve spoken out against smoking in casinos.

Why so passionate about that topic?

-Well, as a former dealer, I can remember smoke being blown in my face.

You know, when somebody would lose a hand, they would get upset and they’d blow smoke, you know, toward me.

And I never smoked in my life, so I was very upset about that.

But the casinos never did anything about it.

And to this day in Vegas, they’ve never done anything about it except for a couple of smoking/non-smoking areas, which is, you know, silly because smoke, it goes all over the place.

You know, in New Jersey, you know, they’re trying to ban smoking in casinos.

They’re very close to doing that.

I’m excited about that being happening.

And it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of movement in Vegas for that happening, and I really would like to see it.

-For the health of– -Exactly.

– –the employees?

-And the customers.

I mean, I went into a casino–I won’t mention it–one of the local casinos a few weeks ago, and I could barely breathe in there.

The smoke was was so thick, and the smell was terrible.

And I just think– you know, the casinos always say how much they care about their employees, how much they care about their customers, and this is very hypocritical for them to continue to allow smoking.

And now we’ve got a lot of reports showing that if you ban smoking in a casino, it wouldn’t really impact your revenues as much as they’re afraid.

-Because that’s their argument is that if they ban smoking, they’re not going to get the same amount of customers.

Their revenue is gonna drop.

-Right.

But if everybody does it at the same time, they have no choice.

They– if you want to gamble, you’re going to have to go to a casino.

And there might be a small short-term financial hit, but it’s very short.

And they’d be back to normal very quickly.

And there’s research studies that have shown that the casinos that have done this have only taken a small hit.

Some of them don’t take any hit.

There’s a casino in Pennsylvania that’s non-smoking that earns more than any other casino in the state where they allow smoking.

So I think it’s a good business move.

And certainly it removes a hypocrisy from, “We really care about our employees.”

-Smoking is also bad for your teeth, and I understand that you are a recent dental advocate.

Why is that?

-I am because three years ago I was with my dental hygienist.

She found– she found an infection in one of my teeth, and she said, You have to get that removed because it will kill you.

And I said– I said, What?

Teeth are going to kill me?

That’s crazy.

But then earlier this year, I went to the doctors in Vegas.

They couldn’t find what’s wrong with me.

They– my friends at the Lou Ruvo Center found a space for me at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, so we flew there.

In one day, they found my heart was infected with this disease that came from my teeth, and it settled in my back.

I couldn’t walk.

Two days later, they did open heart surgery on me.

They replaced three valves that were damaged by this infection.

And so I’m a religious advocate for dentists now.

Go every three months, because if– -Every three months?

I thought it was six.

-My dentist says every three months.

-Okay.

-I go every three months to get my teeth cleaned and get it considered and, you know, I’m really an advocate of making sure your teeth are safe, because it can really affect your health overall.

-Last thing: We have about a minute.

The biggest issue in gaming right now, what do you think it is?

-There’s online gaming, which is growing incredibly fast.

It’s not really in Vegas right now, not in Nevada, because the casinos are afraid that it’s going to keep people home rather than go to their casinos.

And there was some evidence early on that it did impact that, but recently we’ve seen some impact on the casinos that have– on the states that have allowed online gaming.

And we really have to look at that a little more closely.

But I think eventually in Nevada, we’re going to see it.

And the companies, the local casino companies that are are opposing it, have some points.

And we really need to do some studies on how it’s going to impact them, because it also adds revenue to them.

So, you know, we’ll have to see, you know, make that balance.

-Roger Gros, Publisher of Global Gaming Business Magazine, thank you for joining Nevada Week In Person.

-Great to see you.

I’m glad we could fill people in on what’s going on in the industry.

-Me too.

And for more interviews like this, go to vegaspbs.org/nevadaweek.

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Nevada

7 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Nevada

Published

9 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

7 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Nevada

When people think of this unique state, they often only picture Las Vegas, gambling, and nightlife, but there’s so much more! Nevada is the 7th largest state and is also known for its rocky mountains, mining history, and iconic desserts. It gets its name from “Sierra Nevada,” which translates to “snow-covered mountains” due to there being 314 named mountain ranges. This state was founded in 1864 during The Civil War and is nicknamed “Silver State” as it is considered the second-largest producer of silver. Come spend one of your long weekends in one of these picturesque towns!

Elko

View of the Chilton Centennial Tower in Elko.

With a population of 20,500, this vacation spot gives visitors a chance to experience city living while still having stunning nature views. Whitecap mountains surround the town and give it picturesque scenery. Start your first day off by walking around the elaborate city and visiting the Northeastern Nevada Museum to learn about the local history and wildlife and to see some art exhibits. Spend the next day immersing yourself in nature and hiking part of The Ruby Crest Trail or part of the Ruby Mountains, which is a remote wilderness hiking experience located in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. This is one of the most popular trails located around Elko and features rocky mountains overlooking lakes. On your way to this trail, stop by the South Fork State Recreation Area to see views that will ingrained in your memory forever.

On the last day, head over to the Western Folklife Center to learn about cowboys, their history, and the American West. Afterward, stop by the Riparian Hot Spring to soothe the muscles and experience naturally warm waters and a peaceful atmosphere. This spot is great for individuals looking to experience ultimate relaxation with being enveloped in the sounds of nature. Stay at the Rodeway Inn Elko Downtown Area for only $50 a night or the Hampton Inn Elko for $103 a night.

Boulder City

Only 26 miles from the most popular city in Nevada, known as Las Vegas, this spot is perfect for individuals still wanting to be around the bustling scene but wanting to experience a small-town feel. With only a population of 14,000, this city features rows of historic homes, a historic district, and constant scenery of red rocky mountains. Upon arrival, head over to the north end of the city to visit the overlook points known as the Mountain View and Lake Mead View Point. This shows a breathtaking view of forests, rocky mountains, deserts, lakes, and unique formations.

During your visit, stop by two excellent museums that are offered in the area. The Nevada State Railroad Museum has donated trains from the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad. You can even take a 45-minute train ride! The Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum is free to enter and tells the story of the men and women who braved the desert to build Hoover Dam and settle Boulder City. Both of these museums are essential when visiting. For hiking and to see the incredible sandy landscapes, check out the Bootleg Canyon Park Trailhead, River Mountain, or the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail. To relax, Boulder Beach and Goldstrike Hot Spring are essentials! After packed-filled days, head back to the Boulder Dam Hotel for around 100 dollars a night!

Winnemucca

This town was named after Chief Winnemucca, who was a part of the Northern Paiute Tribe and a war chief and translates to “one moccasin” (since he always had one shoe on) or “The Giver” due to his daughter’s participation in advocating for fair treatment. Most tourists travel to this town to hike Winnemucca Mountain, which has an elevation of 6,760 feet and an out-of-this-world view. Travel only 10 mins outside of the city to visit the Winnemucca Sand dunes or 20 mins to the Water Canyon Recreation Area for hiking. Stop by the free modern brick building known as The Humboldt Museum to see remains from the ice age 13,000 years ago, art, vintage automobiles, and to learn about the history of American Indians and mining. End the day at the Econo Lodge Inn and Suites for only 52 dollars a night!

Baker

Entrance Sign at Great Basin National Park, Nevada.

This very small town is close to the Utah border and is the last stop before the “Loneliest Road in America,” which is a 408-mile-long highway of complete isolation. Baker is ideal for individuals looking to go on a nature retreat! Only 5 miles from the entrance of the well-known Great Basin National Park, this town attracts a lot of people looking to explore all parts of this unique park. Hike one of the four mountain peaks with 360 views (or all if you’re up for the challenge) that includes Wheeler Peak (elevation of 13,000), Pyramid Peak (elevation of 12,000 feet), Lincoln Peak (elevation of 11,600) or Granite Peak (elevation of 11,218). Stop at the Lehman Caves and take a guided tour to see more than 300 rare and unique shield formations. While there, check out the Mather Overlook to view white cap mountains from the ground.

Take a drive through the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to view the world’s oldest trees, which are nearly 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines. Lastly, take a walk to view the Lexington Arch, which is made of limestone and created by strong weather forces that have been working for centuries. Stay at the Stargazer Inn or End Of The Trail in between the busy days!

Virginia City

Southwest of Reno, Virginia CIty is home to Victorian buildings that were built in the 19th century during a mining boom. There are three museums in the area to focus on keeping the history alive. To learn more about mining and what it was like to live during the heyday, stop by The Way It Was Museum. The Historic Fourth Ward School And Museum is the last four-story school building of its time and has interactive exhibits. This has a preserved classroom from 1876 that allows visitors to sit and experience what it would be like to go to school back then. Lastly, The Comstock Firemen’s Museum teaches about The Great Fire Of 1875 and gives a glimpse of the men who fought it.

The Chollar Mine Tour takes you deep underground to see how the miners of the Gold Rush extracted 17 million in gold and silver, which made this city famous. For hiking, take the trek up Mt. Bullion or Mt Davidson for beautiful scenery. Stay at the Silverland Inn for 81 dollars a night or The Virginia City Bed and Breakfast.

Tonopah

Tonopah was nick-named “Queen Of The Silver Camps” due to its success in the mining industry in the 1900’s. It is known for world-class stargazing and vast desert landscapes. To learn about mining, take a step into the Tonopah Historic Mining Park to explore more than 100 acres of history, tunnels, caves, and artifacts. Stop by the Old Tonopah Cemetery to view a well-preserved desert cemetery from 1901. From pioneers, old miners, and politicians, learn about the 300 people who are buried there and the thrilling stories behind each of their lives. For a challenge, spend a day hiking Brougher Mountain for an overlook of the town, rocky formations, and desert. Stay at the infamous Clown Motel or at the Mizpah Hotel for direct access to downtown.

Ely

Route 50, the main street in western town of Ely, Nevada is seen against backdrop of mountain range. Editorial credit: Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock.com — Route 50, the main street in the western town of Ely, Nevada, is seen against the backdrop of the mountain range. Editorial credit: Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock.com

Ely is a four-season mountain town where art and outdoor adventures thrive. Brace yourself to be surrounded by white-capped mountains in this town of nearly 4,000! Named in 1878, it was originally a stagecoach station along The Pony Express and became one of the top 10 producers of U.S. copper for 15 years. To learn more about the impact of mining and its general history, visit White Pine Public Museum. After, walk over to the Nevada Northern Railway Museum to take a train ride through the nearby landscape that you will be sure to remember forever. Drive 25 minutes to Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park to see six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens that used to process silver. This 700-acre park also has astonishing hikes and remarkable views. After each eventful day, come back to either the Magnuson Hotel Ely for only $54 a night or at the Ramada By Wyndham Ely for $78 a night!

Spend Your Next Long Weekend In Nevada

Nevada is the driest state in the nation, with an average of 10 inches of precipitation a year! This will guarantee beautiful weather throughout your stay while you hike one of the challenging or easy mountains, lay out on a beach, take a walk through the forest, or explore the scenic towns. Whether it’s a smaller town like Baker to visit Great Basin National Park, a city like Elko, or a historic town like Virginia City, this state has it all. Plan your next long weekend in one of these beautiful towns!

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Nevada

LETTER: Nevada House Democrats buck their party

Published

18 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

LETTER: Nevada House Democrats buck their party

As a hard-core conservative, I could never see myself voting for the trio of Nevada Democrats who voted for the Laken Riley Act in the House last week. But stating that, I must give the three politicians high marks for bucking the Democrat trend to favor immigrants over us constituents. That takes courage, and I applaud them for putting principle over politics.

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Nevada

Nevada volleyball players were pressured with 'legal issues' to play SJSU trans player during feud with school

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

Nevada volleyball players were pressured with 'legal issues' to play SJSU trans player during feud with school

EXCLUSIVE: In October, players on the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team were engaged in a highly publicized dispute with its university and athletic department over whether to play a match against San Jose State University.

San Jose State, at the time, rostered a trans athlete.

The Nevada players approached university administrators privately to express their desire to forfeit the match and join four other programs that refused to play SJSU. But Nevada did not honor that request and instead released a statement insisting it would play the match. Nevada also insisted its players would be allowed to skip the contest without facing discipline.

The team ultimately forfeited the day before the match was scheduled to be played, due to not having enough players. However, the university has said it had discussions with the players about potential “legal issues” that would emerge if the match were not played.

“University administrators met with the Nevada volleyball team and discussed scenarios of what could happen if they chose not to play. One of the scenarios that was discussed revolved around possible legal issues for violating the Nevada Constitution,” read a statement that was provided exclusively to Fox News Digital by the University of Nevada, Reno.

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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 University of Nevada was prohibited by laws and regulations to forfeit for reasons related to gender identity or expression. As a State university, a forfeiture for reasons involving gender identity or expression could constitute per se discrimination and violate the Nevada Constitution,” Nevada’s statement read.

Nevada’s statement was in response to allegations made by co-founder of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), Marshi Smith.

Smith met and spoke with multiple players on the Nevada team during ther dispute, and heads the legal advocacy group that has brought a lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West conference for its handling of the situation involving the trans athlete.

“At UNR, school administrators warned athletes they could face legal action if they refused to compete against SJSU’s team, which included a male starter,” Smith told Fox News Digital.

The dispute between the players escalated into a national controversy that even garnered mainstream political attention in the weeks leading up to November’s election.

Nevada players, including captain Sia Liilii, spoke out publicly against the university multiple times for its refusal to forfeit the match. Trump’s Director of National Intelligence presumptive nominee Tulsi Gabbard and former Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown even visited the team for a photo-op and interview.

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The scale of the controversy only heightened as the Oct. 26 match date approached. On Oct. 22, Nevada and San Jose State announced that the match would be moved from Nevada’s campus in Reno to San Jose State’s campus in the Bay Area in California, claiming the location change was “in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators.”

But then, the day before the match, Nevada announced that its team would forfeit, citing the fact that it didn’t have enough players who were willing to participate. Nevada took a loss on its record, for the match, then went just 1-7 to finish the season.

Nevada players previously spoke about pressures they faced from the university to play the match in a press conference at their university. It was held the day of the originally scheduled match on Oct. 26.

Liilii broke down in tears from the minute she took the podium while she recounted her experience telling school officials she didn’t want to compete against a transgender player.

“We felt unsafe and dismissed,” Liilii said, sobbing. “We met with our school officials to give them our team’s new statement, but they wouldn’t even hear it. We were told that we weren’t educated enough and that we didn’t understand the science. We were told to reconsider our position.”

Nevada sophomore Masyn Navarro alleged her teammates had been told to “stay quiet” about the controversy during the press conference.

“It should not be this difficult to stand up for women. However, we will now take this opportunity to stand up as a team, as some of us have been told to stay quiet,” Navarro said.

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Nevada athletic director Stephanie Rempe previously provided a statement to Fox News Digital addressing the allegations that were made at the press conference.

“I did not tell, and am unaware of any member of the athletics administrative team telling members of our women’s volleyball team that they ‘weren’t educated enough,’ that they ‘didn’t understand the science,’ that they should reconsider their position or that they should ‘stay quiet’ regarding their participation in an Oct. 26 match that was scheduled against San Jose State University.”

Rempe said she had offered an apology to the players regarding how they were informed that the university planned to proceed with the game, even after the players had voted to forfeit.

“On Oct. 14 and Oct. 22, I spoke with the team for less than five minutes each time and those gatherings were operational in nature. At all three meetings, I shared our genuine apology for not sharing the statement released on Oct. 3 in advance of their match against UNLV. As has been stated on multiple occasions, we continue to support the rights of the volleyball players who choose and choose not to participate,” Rempe said.

Article I, Section 24 of the Nevada Constitution provides that “Equality of Rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin.”

But Liilii is now one of 11 former or current Mountain West volleyball players engaged in the lawsuit against San Jose State and the Mountain West for its handling of the situation involving the trans athlete.

San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser leads the suit and is engaged in a separate lawsuit against the NCAA citing her experience of having to share a team, bedroom and changing spaces with the trans athlete while knowledge of the player’s birth sex was actively withheld from her for an entire season by the school and conference.

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The other players on the plaintiff list are Alyssa Sugai, Elle Patterson, Nicanora Clarke, Kaylie Ray, Macey Boggs, Sierra Grizzle, Jordan Sandy, Katelyn Van Kirk and Kiersten Van Kirk. Former SJSU Assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, who was suspended by San Jose State after filing a Title IX complaint alleging the university gave favorable treatment toward the trans player, is also a plaintiff.

Smith told Fox News Digital that some athletes have expressed fear of retaliation by their schools when deciding whether or not to seek their help.

“The most common first question we hear from NCAA female athletes seeking support is: ‘What can my school or the NCAA do to retaliate against me if I speak out against allowing men in women’s sports?’ They’re often terrified of losing scholarships or being kicked off their teams,” Smith told Fox News Digital.

“The first reassurance we provide is that these athletes have a Constitutional right to free speech. They can speak out or forfeit in protest against discrimination, Title IX violations, or increased safety risks when competing against a male athlete—without fear of retaliation, regardless of the lies their schools may tell them.”

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Jackson Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital. He previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider. Jackson has covered the Super Bowl and NBA Finals, and has interviewed iconic figures Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz and Roger Clemens.

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