San Jose State volleyball team with transgender player gets a 7th forfeited match, first since Trump’s victory
The San Jose State women’s volleyball team has faced yet another setback in their season, with the University of Wyoming announcing that they will be forfeiting their second match against the Spartans. This marks the seventh time this season that a match has been scratched from San Jose State’s schedule, sparking controversy and tension within the team.
The ongoing national debate over a transgender athlete on the team, Blaire Fleming, has divided the program and caused locker room tensions. Spartans captain Brooke Slusser filed a lawsuit against the NCAA over the presence of Fleming, alleging that she was never informed that Fleming is a biological male. The situation escalated further when assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended after filing a Title IX complaint alleging favoritism towards Fleming over Slusser.
Slusser expressed feeling unsafe and unprotected after receiving multiple threats against her life. She claimed that the university has not supported her and has instead focused on supporting Fleming. The team has had to deal with increased security measures, including police protection at games and coordination with other universities for additional security during away games.
The recent forfeits by programs like Wyoming, Southern Utah, Utah State, Nevada, and Boise State have left the Spartans in limbo regarding the postseason. The upcoming Mountain West Tournament could feature multiple matches between San Jose State and teams that have already forfeited. With the potential for a federal crackdown on transgender athletes in women’s sports under a Trump administration, the future of transgender inclusion in sports remains uncertain.
Despite the controversy and tensions within the team, Slusser remains steadfast in her advocacy for the protection of women’s athletics. She has not spoken with Fleming since joining the lawsuit and expressed regret for opening up to the transgender player before knowing their birth gender. Slusser also lamented the lack of support from other coaches within the program, including head coach Todd Kress.
As the debate over transgender inclusion in women’s sports continues to unfold on a national level, the San Jose State women’s volleyball team finds itself at the center of a contentious and divisive issue. With the possibility of more forfeits and challenges ahead, the future of the team remains uncertain.
