Utah State has become the fourth women’s volleyball team to forfeit a match against San Jose State University due to a controversy surrounding a transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming, a redshirt senior on the San Jose State team. Utah State issued a statement announcing it would not participate in the October 23 match, following similar decisions by Southern Utah, Boise State, and the University of Wyoming. The schools did not provide detailed reasons for the forfeits but acknowledged the impact on their win-loss records.
Fleming, who plays as an outside hitter, has been a key player for San Jose State this season. Her presence has sparked debate over fairness in women’s sports, with some athletes and supporters, including former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, suing the NCAA over policies allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports. Gaines and others argue that these policies compromise both fairness and safety for female athletes.
To the Utah State and Southern Utah Women Volleyball teams: We stand behind you and are cheering you on! Thank you for standing up for not only yourselves, but for women across the country – current and future generations!
— Mike Schultz (@mschultz_12) October 3, 2024
It’s time for the NCAA to take action to protect our…
Some female athletes have expressed feeling “blindsided” when facing transgender athletes without prior notification from the NCAA. Macy Petty, a legislative assistant and volleyball player, criticized the NCAA for failing to inform teams, saying, “There’s no informed consent for the schools or for the female athletes here.” Brooke Slusser, Fleming’s teammate, is also part of the lawsuit, noting how Fleming’s powerful spikes made some games feel dangerous, as they were faster than anything she had seen from other women players.
