Trans volleyball player Blaire Fleming controversy takes fresh twist with rival team’s playoff decision
The Boise State women’s volleyball team sensationally lost its championship semifinal against San Jose State amid controversy over the Spartans’ transgender star Blaire Fleming.
The Broncos declined to play San Jose State twice during the regular season and the teams were scheduled to meet again Friday in the postseason.
Boise State defeated Utah State to clinch a spot in the final four of the Mountain West championship.
However, instead of chasing a spot in the NCAA Championship, the team announced its withdrawal from the competition.
“The decision not to continue playing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one,” a statement read.
“Our team overcame forfeits to earn a spot in the tournament field and battled to victory over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday.
The Boise State women’s volleyball team lost its semifinal match against San Jose State
It comes amid controversy surrounding Spartans transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming
“They should not pass up this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes.”
It means San Jose State has reached the Mountain West championship, where the Spartans will face No. 1 Colorado State or No. 5 San Diego State. Both teams opted to play the Spartans this season instead of sitting out.
They were awarded a bye to the semifinals after six regular season games were ruled no contests due to boycotts by their opponents.
Boise State’s statement did not refer to Fleming, but their decision comes after months of controversy involving the transgender athlete.
Earlier this week, Fleming was among those honored in the Mountain West postseason awards.
That’s despite the redshirt senior being at the center of a lawsuit involving her own teammates, who sued their head coach, the college and the Mountain West, demanding that Fleming be ineligible for the conference tournament.
San Jose State coach Melissa Batie-Smoose accused the school of trying to “silence” her after she was suspended following complaints about Fleming.
The NCAA is also facing a class-action lawsuit from more than a dozen female athletes, who accuse the organization of knowingly violating a law banning discrimination on the basis of sex.
Several schools have refused to play women’s volleyball against San Jose State’s trans player
A judge denied a last-minute attempt to ban Fleming from the conference championship
Colorado State’s Malaya Jones was named Mountain West Player of the Year, even though she was accused of conspiring with Fleming to set up a game — and “explode” SJSU star Brooke Slusser — during a game last month.
The awards came after a judge rejected a last-minute attempt to ban Fleming from the conference championship tournament and any future NCAA Tournament games.
Judge Kato Crews ruled that the lawsuit “was not reasonable” and that it would “risk confusion, disrupt months of planning and, at a minimum, disadvantage (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament.”
Boise State, Wyoming, Utah State, Nevada and Southern Utah have canceled games against the Spartans this season, while Nevada’s players said they “refuse to participate in any game that promotes injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details .