After months at the center of a debate over a transgender woman’s right to compete in women’s sports, San Jose State University lost its conference championship volleyball game on Saturday, bringing a close to a roller-coaster season upended by an issue that has transcended sports.

On a court not far from the Las Vegas Strip, the Spartans fell to the tournament favorite Colorado State University in the Mountain West Conference tournament, failing to advance to next month’s N.C.A.A. tournament, where the spotlight on the Spartans would have grown even brighter.

The Spartans advanced to the final without having played in a single previous game at the tournament. It had a bye in the first round and moved straight to the semifinal, where its opponent, Boise State, for the third time this season boycotted the game in protest over the Spartans’ transgender player.

That player has not spoken publicly, and The New York Times is not naming her because she has not publicly confirmed her identity. The university also has not confirmed whether the volleyball team has a transgender player, citing educational privacy laws.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Pashtana Usufzy, Rachel Nostrant and Kate Selig contributed reporting.