Blaire Fleming and Brooke Slusser represented San Jose State for all-conference honors
College volleyball team embroiled in trans athlete controversy reaches tournament after six forfeit wins
University of Nevada Reno volleyball captain Sia Liilii on the fight for fairness in women's sports as San Jose State University reaches the playoffs due to teams forfeiting matches to avoid facing their transgender team member.
San Jose State women’s volleyball player Blaire Fleming was named an honorable mention selection by the Mountain West Conference on Tuesday ahead of its tournament.
Fleming, a transgender woman, led the team in kills during the regular season with 297 and has a team-leading 3.86 kills per set. Brooke Slusser, who sued the school over Fleming, was also given honorable mention honors.
Blaire Fleming, #3 of the San Jose State Spartans, reacts during the second set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on Oct. 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Social media users on X scrutinized the Mountain West Conference for giving honors to Fleming amid the controversy around trans inclusion in women’s sports.
Congratulations to our #MWVB athletes named All-Mountain West and Honorable Mention! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/a8SbIe2cNW
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 26, 2024
He is an average athlete playing on a D1 female team. The girls on his team and who he is playing against are exceptional female athletes, elite and they worked hard to get to this level, the male is not elite, he’s just an average guy…if he was good enough, the SJSU men’s team…
— Herderpoke (@herderpoke92) November 27, 2024
Hey @Riley_Gaines_ SJSU is in 2nd place with a 12-6 record and placed NO ONE on the all conf squad. How does that happen? Oh wait…they didn’t actually win those matches. But a real female missed out cuz they put him on the Honorable Mention list. Not Honorable at all actually
— Dan Wingard (@Wingo47) November 26, 2024
@GloNevarez needs to keep men out of women's sports or RESIGN IMMEDIATELY!!! Protect our women!!!
— Dp Love (@dplove619) November 26, 2024
And once again a male athlete is given a honor that is meant for a female. This has to stop! In the name of safety, opportunity, and equality for all your female athletes, @NCAA step up and protect female sports.
— Adriana McLamb (@adrianamclamb) November 27, 2024
Take action now: https://t.co/EOim7BC9c5 https://t.co/OysRohUBuQ
San Jose State is the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament and have a bye right into the semifinals. The Spartans finished the season 14-6 overall and 12-6 against Mountain West opponents. Six of their wins came as forfeits as teams decided against playing San Jose State.
Brooke Slusser, #10, and Blaire Fleming, #3, were given all-conference honors. (Getty Images)
Two of those teams could end up playing San Jose State in the tournament. Utah State faces Boise State in the quarterfinals. The winner will play San Jose State but could end up forfeiting the match. Neither team played San Jose State this season, likely over Fleming’s inclusion on the team.
It is unclear if either school would cancel their would-be conference tournament matchups.
Blaire Fleming, #3 of the San Jose State Spartans, looks on during the third set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym on Oct. 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
A federal judge also blocked a motion that would have barred Fleming from competing in the Mountain West Conference and an appeals court upheld the decision.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.
