San Jose State President Cynthia Teniente-Matson said her school and the California State University system are countersuing the federal government, challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s determination that San Jose State violated Title IX with its handling of a transgender volleyball player.

SJSU and the Cal State system are suing to prevent potential federal funding cuts by the government.

The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights office said in January its investigation of how San Jose State handled the issue of trans athlete Brooke Fleming was in violation of Title IV. The DOE demanded SJSU resolve its violation by agreeing to certain conditions.

Facing the same ultimatum, the University of Pennsylvania complied last summer with the DOE’s conditions after that school was ruled to be in violation of Title IV over its handling of trans swimmer Lia Thomas.

“Because we believe OCR’s findings aren’t grounded in the facts or the law, SJSU and the CSU filed a lawsuit today against the federal government to challenge those findings and prevent the federal government from taking punitive action against the university, including the potential withholding of critical federal funding,” Teniente-Matson said Friday.

“This is not a step we take lightly. However, we have a responsibility to defend the integrity of our institution and the rule of law, while ensuring that every member of our community is treated fairly and in accordance with the law. Our position is simple: We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so.”

Since 2024, San Jose State has been in the national spotlight after it was revealed the volleyball team included trans athlete Blaire Fleming.

SOCCER

Timo Werner had his second assist in as many appearances for San Jose, Ousseni Bouda scored a goal, and the Earthquakes beat the Philadelphia Union 1-0 on Saturday night.

San Jose (3-0-0) is off to the best start in club history. The Earthquakes started 2-0-1 on their way to the 2003 MLS Cup championship.

Daniel De Sousa Britto — known simply as “Daniel” — had three saves for San Jose and has not allowed a goal this season.

Alyssa Thompson scored in the 82nd minute to break a stalemate and the United States defeated Colombia 1-0 to win the SheBelieves Cup in Harrison, N.J.

It was the eighth straight shutout for the United States, which hasn’t allowed a goal since a 3-1 victory over Portugal in October.

Earlier in the day at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Canada overcame Argentina 3-2 on penalties after a scoreless draw.

Lionel Messi scored in the 27th minute, and Inter Miami held on for a 2-1 victory over D.C. United in front of 72,026 at the home of the Baltimore Ravens.

With interest in Messi obviously high, the game was held in downtown Baltimore instead of at D.C. United’s smaller venue in Washington. Messi gave many fans what they came to see when he put Inter Miami (2-1-0) ahead 2-0 in the first half.

GOLF

Daniel Berger stopped making as many birdies even after a rain delay took some of the bite out of Bay Hill. He still had a two-shot lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Florida, when darkness kept the third round from finishing.

Regardless of how the third round concludes, Bay Hill had that feeling of being a tournament again instead of the one-man show Berger had made it going into the weekend with a five-shot lead.

That won’t be the case for Rory McIlroy, who felt muscle spasms in his back and decided to withdraw about 30 minutes before his tee time.

Cameron Young shot a 67 for a 9-under 207 along with Sepp Straka (66) and Cal’s Collin Morikawa, who barely beat the darkness for his 70.

Ricky Castillo posted a bogey-free round of 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Puerto Rico Open.

Castillo was at 12-under 204 and will be in the final group with John Parry of England. Matti Schmid shot 68 and was also in the group one shot behind.

Mi Hyang Lee made only five pars in a wild and windy round at the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan Island, China that ended with a 1-under 71, good enough to seize control with a three-shot lead as the South Korean goes after her first LPGA win more than eight years.

MOTORSPORTS

Back on a familiar oval, Josef Newgarden drove back to victory lane and the top of the IndyCar standings.

Newgarden won at Phoenix Raceway, where IndyCar is bundled with NASCAR for a doubleheader in the desert.

His victory continued what could be a Team Penske sweep at Phoenix: David Malukas won the pole for the IndyCar race, Joey Logano won the pole for the NASCAR race, Newgarden won the IndyCar race and Ryan Blaney is the favorite to win today.