The San Jose State University women's volleyball team's journey to the Mountain West Tournament has been anything but ordinary. This season has been dominated by the national conversation surrounding transgender athlete Blaire Fleming's participation and the ensuing legal battles and team forfeitures. Let's retrace the events that led to this unprecedented situation.
The Biden Administration's Impact
President Biden's January 2021 executive order on preventing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation set the stage for the current landscape of transgender inclusion in sports. The order's emphasis on allowing children to participate in school sports without fear of discrimination based on gender identity became a cornerstone of the administration's policy.
This, coupled with the Biden administration's proposed Title IX rewrite in April 2023, further fueled the debate. Although the administration stated the rewrite didn't address athletic eligibility, critics argued it paved the way for increased transgender participation in women's sports.
Fleming's Arrival and the Ensuing Controversy
Blaire Fleming, a transfer student from Coastal Carolina, joined the San Jose State Spartans in the summer of 2022. Fleming's impressive high school volleyball record, including a 30-kill game, hinted at the player's potential. However, Fleming's arrival sparked controversy, with allegations arising in a lawsuit that the university, aware of Fleming's biological sex, awarded Fleming a full scholarship, potentially at the expense of a female athlete.
Teammate Brooke Slusser, who joined the team in the summer of 2023, alleges in a lawsuit that she was unaware of Fleming's biological sex and was repeatedly assigned to room with Fleming. Slusser claims she only learned the truth in the fall of 2023, overhearing a conversation between other students. This discovery led to a confrontation between Slusser and Fleming in the spring of 2024, followed by a team meeting where players were allegedly instructed not to discuss Fleming's biological sex publicly.
Escalating Tensions and National Attention
The 2024 season marked a turning point. Louisiana Tech, San Jose State's first opponent, was reportedly unaware of Fleming's biological sex before their match. Subsequent opponents, including Southern Utah, Boise State, Wyoming, and Utah State, forfeited their matches against San Jose State, escalating the controversy to a national level. This wave of forfeits drew attention from governors and political figures, further politicizing the issue.
Allegations of a plot against Slusser during an October 2024 match against Colorado State, though unsubstantiated by investigations, added another layer of complexity. Donald Trump's public comments on the situation, advocating for a ban on transgender athletes in women's sports, further amplified the national discourse and became a key campaign issue in the 2024 presidential election.
The suspension of assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose following a Title IX complaint against the university added to the team's turmoil. The Nevada team's attempt to forfeit their match against San Jose State, citing safety concerns, highlighted the ongoing struggle between athletes, universities, and state laws regarding transgender inclusion in sports.
The Road to the Mountain West Tournament
As the San Jose State Spartans head into the Mountain West Tournament, the controversy surrounding Blaire Fleming's participation remains a focal point. With teams having previously forfeited matches rather than compete against Fleming, the tournament presents an unprecedented challenge for the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference. The outcome of the tournament and the future of transgender inclusion in women's sports remain uncertain.
