A third women’s college volleyball team has forfeited a match against San Jose State amid controversy over transgender player Blaire Fleming.
Fleming, a redshirt junior in their third season on San Jose State’s roster, is at the center of a class-action lawsuit filed against the NCAA after it was revealed they are a biological male.
More than a dozen female athletes, including one of the player’s current teammates, are now accusing the NCAA of knowingly violating a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination by allowing a transgender player to compete in women’s sports.
Amid the uproar over Fleming, Southern Utah and Boise State both refused to play against San Jose State last month, albeit without giving a specific reason as to why.
And now the University of Wyoming has followed suit and forfeited its proposed game with the school on Saturday, again without providing a reason for doing so.
A third women’s college volleyball team has forfeited a match against a transgender opponent
Fleming, who plays as an outside and right-side hitter, has enjoyed two seasons with San Jose State after previously playing at Coastal Carolina. The 6ft 1in volleyball star has helped the team move to 10-0 so far this year.
San Jose State responded to the controversy over its player in a statement to OutKick on Tuesday, saying: ‘It is disappointing that our SJSU student athletes, who are in full compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete.
‘We are committed to supporting our student-athletes through these challenges and in their ability to compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment.’
The Mountain West Conference has been notified by the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) about athletes’ safety concerns regarding Fleming.
Outkick has published portions of ICONS’ letter to the Mountain West Conference.
‘Over the last few weeks, we have spoken with distraught student-athletes and their parents, coaches, and administrators throughout the Mountain West Conference (MWC) regarding a crisis in MWC women’s volleyball,’ the letter to the conference read.
San Jose State has allegedly been fielding a transgender player in Blaire Fleming (pictured)
Three schools, including Boise State, have forfeited women’s volleyball games against them
One of Fleming’s teammates and former roommates, Brooke Slusser, has said the player previously admitted to being biologically male, per Outkick.
Slusser, who has joined the lawsuit filed against the NCAA, claims she felt concerned for her safety after discovering one of her teammates was transgender, which she says she was unaware of despite sharing rooms together on team trips.
The San Jose State co-captain also expressed concerns about Fleming competing against female players on the court.
‘Brooke estimates that Fleming’s spikes were traveling upward of 80 mph, which was faster than she had ever seen a woman hit a volleyball,’ Slusser’s complaint read.
‘The girls were doing everything they could to dodge Fleming’s spikes but still could not fully protect themselves.’
Riley Gaines, a critic of trans athletes in women’s sports who has connections to both ICONS and Outkick, issued her own statement to the Fox-owned website after Boise State refused to play against San Jose State last month.
One of Fleming’s teammates, Brooke Slusser, says they admitted to being biologically male
‘I commend Boise State’s athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to forfeit their match against undefeated San Jose State,’ Gaines wrote. ‘Some principles transcend winning on the court, and the safety and well-being of female athletes is one of them.
‘It’s encouraging to witness a growing number of institutions prioritizing fairness and athlete safety over forced inclusion.
‘I hope to see more universities follow the lead of Boise State and Southern Utah, standing up for what’s right and protecting the integrity of women’s sports.’