Controversy Over Trans Athlete Dominates Mountain West Volleyball Tournament

[Social Media]

 

San Jose State University’s volleyball team finds itself at the center of a national controversy as it heads into the Mountain West Tournament. The team's season has been marked by forfeited matches, lawsuits, and debates over the inclusion of a transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming, whose presence has sparked polarized responses across the league.

 

 

San Jose State, which finished the regular season with a 12-6 conference record, benefited from six forfeited matches, earning a first-round bye in the tournament. The Spartans are now guaranteed a spot in the semifinals, where they will face either Utah State or Boise State—two teams that refused to play against them during the season due to objections to Fleming’s participation. Boise State took the most drastic stance, forfeiting two scheduled matches, while Utah State forfeited one and has since joined a lawsuit seeking to have that loss overturned.

 

 

The stakes are high for San Jose State, not just on the court but in navigating the social and legal challenges surrounding its inclusion in the tournament. Brooke Slusser, the team’s co-captain and a plaintiff in two lawsuits related to Fleming’s eligibility, expressed uncertainty about how the upcoming matches will unfold. “We’re just mostly wondering, are teams even gonna play us, period, if we go there?” Slusser told Fox News Digital.

 

She noted the unpredictability of the situation, saying, “It seems like every few days it looks like it’ll be a fine day and everything’s normal, and then something else happens.”

 

The Mountain West Conference has stated its commitment to ensuring fair competition while also preparing for potential forfeitures. A spokesperson confirmed that the conference would recognize San Jose State as the tournament champion if their opponent in the final were to forfeit. “If we get to a championship game, and it’s San Jose State vs. whoever, if that institution forfeits the game, then San Jose State wins that match, and they are tournament champions,” the spokesperson explained, adding that the team would become the automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament.

 

The controversy has also reached the courts, with a federal judge in Colorado holding an emergency hearing to address Utah State’s legal challenge. Plaintiffs argued that Fleming should not be allowed to compete in the tournament. The hearing, presided over by Judge Kato Crews, began with a contentious debate over pronouns and whether Fleming’s name should be used publicly for privacy reasons. Judge Crews ultimately decided to use she/her pronouns when referring to Fleming and promised a ruling in a “timely fashion.”

 

Meanwhile, San Jose State has stood firmly behind Fleming and the team’s right to compete. A university spokesperson defended the inclusion of Fleming, citing compliance with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies. “Our volleyball team members have earned the right to compete, and we are deeply disappointed for them and with them that they are being denied those opportunities through cancellations and forfeits,” the spokesperson said. “We are also proud of how they have persevered through these challenges on the court.”

 

As the tournament approaches, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on San Jose State. With lingering questions about whether their opponents will take the court and a legal ruling pending, the team’s path forward is anything but clear. The controversy underscores the broader national debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports and highlights the complex intersection of inclusion, fairness, and competition in collegiate athletics.

 

Based on a report by NYP 2024-11-27

 

 

 

[Jingthing]

Go Spartans!

 

 

[quake]

One more bloke, in women's sport and there changing rooms. 

[Jingthing]

The forfeiting teams are bad sports. Reminds me of Iranians refusing to play Israelis.

[Cryingdick]

One day it will lead to teams trying to recruit bigger girl dudes. 

[jippytum]

Trans athletes are cheats. 

The problem is  woke officials allowing  them compete in the first 

place. 

There should be more protest and outrage prior to tournaments allowing transgender athletes. 

 Not  waiting until  after the officials have allowed a Trans  competitor to  use an unfair advantage to win the contest. 

 

[proton]

7 hours ago, Jingthing said:

The forfeiting teams are bad sports. Reminds me of Iranians refusing to play Israelis.

 

They are fighting for the right of fair play and not giving into these cheating men pretending to be women

[WDSmart]

I understand the controversy, but I think the gender requirements for being on a certain type of team in college (and other types of) sports need to be updated. Limiting it to just "male" or "female" doesn't cut it anymore. 

[LukKrueng]

1 hour ago, WDSmart said:

I understand the controversy, but I think the gender requirements for being on a certain type of team in college (and other types of) sports need to be updated. Limiting it to just "male" or "female" doesn't cut it anymore. 

Yap, they should go by xx\xy chromosomes if all other reasonings fall on deaf ears of the pc crowd

[WDSmart]

28 minutes ago, LukKrueng said:

Yap, they should go by xx\xy chromosomes if all other reasonings fall on deaf ears of the pc crowd

I agree, but what do we do about people who don't have only xx or xy chromosomes? Some (only 2 in 1,000) are born with XXY, a mix of chromosomes. Klinefelter Syndrome: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

[G_Money]

15 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Go Spartans!

 

 

Trans have no place in women’s sports.

 

 

[dinsdale]

I can't wait for the therian Olympics. I think my favourite event would be wrestling for those who identify as cats. No more clash of the titans it will be clash of the pussies. Who wouldn't want to see that.

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

A spokesperson confirmed that the conference would recognize San Jose State as the tournament champion if their opponent in the final were to forfeit. “If we get to a championship game, and it’s San Jose State vs. whoever, if that institution forfeits the game, then San Jose State wins that match, and they are tournament champions,” the spokesperson explained, adding that the team would become the automatic qualifier for the NCAA tournament.

Soooo, even if they win, they lose. They will likely, and rightly, lose any respect from teams with only real women on them. Is the person in question worth it if the team becomes pariah?

[KannikaP]

15 hours ago, quake said:

One more bloke, in women's sport and there changing rooms. 

their

[thaibeachlovers]

15 hours ago, Social Media said:

The controversy underscores the broader national debate surrounding transgender athletes in sports and highlights the complex intersection of inclusion, fairness, and competition in collegiate athletics.

Fairness is the relevant word. Is it fair to allow a man to compete in a female competition? They wouldn't allow a man living as a man to compete, so why does putting on a dress make it OK to do so?

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooo, even if they win, they lose. They will likely, and rightly, lose any respect from teams with only real women on them. Is the person in question worth it if the team becomes pariah?

I'm not convinced gender is really a performance issue for volleyball. Do you want her to play on the men's team?

[KannikaP]

28 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

I agree, but what do we do about people who don't have only xx or xy chromosomes? Some (only 2 in 1,000) are born with XXY, a mix of chromosomes. Klinefelter Syndrome: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

Then only let them play against similarly configured people.

[Jingthing]

Just now, Jingthing said:

I'm not convinced gender is really a performance issue for volleyball. Do you want her to play on the men's team?

It's a lot more than putting on a dress.

[KannikaP]

2 hours ago, WDSmart said:

I understand the controversy, but I think the gender requirements for being on a certain type of team in college (and other types of) sports need to be updated. Limiting it to just "male" or "female" doesn't cut it anymore. 

If Adam & Eve were a man & a woman, what has changed. There ARE just males and females, no matter what they say they want to be. 

Only a man & a woman can NATURALLY reproduce.

[dinsdale]

This is brilliant and so hits the nail right on the head.

 

[Jingthing]

Just now, KannikaP said:

If Adam & Eve were a man & a woman, what has changed. There ARE just males and females, no matter what they say they want to be.

So intersex people are what?

Look, other than intersex people etc. yes people are born male or female.

But then some people transition and they exist as human beings as well.

Of course a person born female is not the same as a transgender female but again transgender females exist in the world.

[KannikaP]

4 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So intersex people are what?

Look, other than intersex people etc. yes people are born male or female.

But then some people transition and they exist as human beings as well.

Of course a person born female is not the same as a transgender female but again transgender females exist in the world.

Agree, so let trans-females compete against others of the same ilk.

Strange that there is very little regarding trans-men competing against real men.

[youreavinalaff]

6 hours ago, jippytum said:

Trans athletes are cheats. 

The problem is  woke officials allowing  them compete in the first 

place. 

There should be more protest and outrage prior to tournaments allowing transgender athletes. 

 Not  waiting until  after the officials have allowed a Trans  competitor to  use an unfair advantage to win the contest. 

 

Was there an unfair advantage?

 

Was the trans athlete bigger and stronger than the others? Was the testosterone level higher?

 

I'm not condoning the issue, just asking a couple of questions.

[Jingthing]

2 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Agree, so let trans-females compete against others of the same ilk.

Strange that there is very little regarding trans-men competing against real men.

That's not practical as trans people are a very small minority.

Reminds me of when baseball in the US was segregated.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, youreavinalaff said:

Was there an unfair advantage?

 

Was the trans athlete bigger and stronger than the others? Was the testosterone level higher?

 

I'm not condoning the issue, just asking a couple of questions.

Good questions.

I think such matters such be subject to rules set by specific sporting authorities and not turned into such a massive and divisive culture wars political football as has happened.

 

[youreavinalaff]

17 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

If Adam & Eve were a man & a woman, what has changed. There ARE just males and females, no matter what they say they want to be. 

Only a man & a woman can NATURALLY reproduce.

Your theory is flawed. Adam and Eve???🤣🤣🥰

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That's not practical as trans people are a very small minority.

Reminds me of when baseball in the US was segregated.

So it's pandering to a very small minority. Well said and spot on. As for baseball in the US how many women play in the MLB? Personally I don't know but my "guess" would be ZERO. I'm not saying there aren't gay men playing in the league and there might very well be but they are still MEN. Mixed competitive sports have been around for a very long time but they are what it says. Mixed. Boys and girls. Not boys identifying as girls. It's only since the progressive left have pushed identity politics that this crap has been forced upon society by as you yourself say "a very small minority."

[BangkokReady]

35 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm not convinced gender is really a performance issue for volleyball. Do you want her to play on the men's team?

It's a lot more than putting on a dress.

 

🤔

[Jingthing]

3 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

So it's pandering to a very small minority. Well said and spot on. As for baseball in the US how many women play in the MLB? Personally I don't know but my "guess" would be ZERO. I'm not saying there aren't gay men playing in the league and there might very well be but they are still MEN. Mixed competitive sports have been around for a very long time but they are what it says. Mixed. Boys and girls. Not boys identifying as girls. It's only since the progressive left have pushed identity politics that this crap has been forced upon society by as you yourself say "a very small minority."

I meant baseball segregated by race.

[dinsdale]

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I meant baseball segregated by race.

What's that got to do with men in women's sports who as you say "are a very small minority"?