Utah university forfeits volleyball game over transgender controversy

The Utah State University has become the fourth university to forfeit a match against San Jose State amid controversy over transgender player Blaire Fleming. 

Fleming, a redshirt senior 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 were born a biological male. 

More than a dozen female athletes, including the player's teammate Brooke Slusser and women's-rights activist Riley Gaines, are accusing the NCAA of knowingly violating a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination by allowing a transgender player to compete in women's sports. 

Since then, the women's volleyball teams from Southern Utah, Boise State and University of Wyoming have refused to play against San Jose State. 

In a statement released today, Utah State also declared that they will not be participating in a match scheduled on October 23 - notably without providing a clear reason for doing so. 

'Utah State University will not participate in its scheduled October 23, 2024, volleyball match at San Jose State University,' it said in a statement. 

'The University will abide by Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded.' 

All three of the other universities also did not provide a reason for the forfeit. 

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 yearThe 6ft 1in volleyball star has helped the team move to 10-0 so far this year.

She is currently listed as the second-best player on the team, with 103 kills and scoring 118.5 points this season.

The player transferred from Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina, where she was playing on the women's team, shortly after the state passed the Save Women's Sports Bill, which would have banned her from playing on female teams. 

The player also participated on her high school women's team at John Champe High School in Virginia, according to Reduxx. 

San Jose State responded to the controversy over its player in a statement to OutKick on October 1 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.'

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Fleming's former roommate, Brooke Slusser, was the one who first revealed that the player had admitted to being biologically male, per Outkick.

Slusser claims in the lawsuit that she felt concerned for her safety after discovering Fleming 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 long time 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. 

'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.' 

The NCAA already countered an early version of the lawsuit, saying the complainants can't file a sex discrimination suit against the organization as it is a rule-making body and not a state college. 

The organization also said the women can't penalize other state organizations for simply following NCAA rules. 

According to the Cowboy State Daily, Colorado State University and The University of Nevada-Reno have signaled that they are ready to play their match against San Jose State. 

Other universities that have matches lined up are The University of New Mexico, The University of Las Vegas, Nevada, San Diego State University, Air Force Academy and  Fresno State University.