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 banning sex discrimination by allowing a transgender player to participate in the women’s sports.
Amid the furor over Fleming, Southern Utah and Boise State both declined to play San Jose State last month, though without giving a specific reason why.
And now the University of Wyoming has followed suit and forfeited its proposed game against the school on Saturday, again without giving a reason.
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, enjoyed two seasons at San Jose State after previously playing at Coastal Carolina. The 6-foot-1 volleyball star has helped the team go 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 the 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) of the athlete safety concerns regarding Fleming.
Outkick has published portions of ICONS’ letter to the Mountain West Conference.
“Over the past several weeks at the Mountain West Conference (MWC), we have spoken with distraught student-athletes and their parents, coaches and administrators about a crisis in MWC women’s volleyball,” the letter to the conference said.
San Jose State has reportedly fielded a transgender player in Blaire Fleming (pictured)
Three schools, including Boise State, have forfeited women’s volleyball matches against them
One of Fleming’s teammates and former roommates, Brooke Slusser, has said the player previously admitted to being biologically male. Surpass.
Slusser, who has joined the lawsuit against the NCAA, claims she became concerned for her safety after discovering one of her teammates was transgender, which she said she was unaware of despite sharing rooms together during team outings.
The San Jose State co-captain also expressed concern about Fleming’s competition with female players on the court.
“Brooke estimates that Fleming’s spikes reached a speed of 80 miles per hour, which was faster than she had ever seen a woman hit a volleyball,” Slusser’s complaint read.
“The girls did everything they could to avoid Fleming’s spikes, but still couldn’t 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 Fox’s website after Boise State declined to play San Jose State last month.
One of Fleming’s teammates, Brooke Slusser, says they have admitted to being biologically male
“I commend the Boise State athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to forfeit their game against undefeated San Jose State,” Gaines wrote. “Some principles transcend winning on the field, and the safety and well-being of female athletes is one of them.
“It is encouraging to see a growing number of institutions prioritizing athlete fairness and safety over forced integration.
“I hope more universities will follow the example of Boise State and Southern Utah, stand up for what is right and protect the integrity of women’s sports.”