A recent NCAA women’s volleyball match between San Jose State University (SJSU) and San Diego State University (SDSU) turned into a heated showdown—but not for the reasons one might expect. While SDSU triumphed over SJSU on the scoreboard, the real drama unfolded off the court. The controversy centered on Blaire Fleming, a transgender athlete whose inclusion on SJSU’s women’s team has sparked debate, forfeits, and now, public protests.
Fleming, a 6’1” transgender woman born as Brayden, joined the team amidst growing national discussions on fairness in women’s sports. At Saturday’s game, the crowd size tripled, but many fans didn’t come to cheer. Instead, they held banners reading “Save Women’s Sports” and chanted, “No men in women’s sports!” The tense atmosphere highlighted the deep divide over transgender athletes in women’s competitions.
As the game progressed, chants and jeers directed at Fleming grew louder. One attendee in the opposing bleachers reportedly attempted to silence the protesters by alerting security. However, the on-duty guard declined to intervene, citing free speech protections.
SDSU staff, however, took a different stance. Dave Noll, SDSU’s associate athletic director of operations, confronted one of the protest leaders, Patrick Higuera, accompanied by venue security. Noll informed Higuera that his actions violated the Mountain West Conference’s sportsmanship guidelines, sparking a heated exchange.
“Shame on you for not protecting women,” Higuera fired back, refusing to back down.
In a subsequent statement, SDSU athletics defended its handling of the incident, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment. “Guidelines and policies are in place that help to ensure a safe environment for our student-athletes, staff, and guests,” the statement read. It also underscored the importance of sportsmanship and condemned behavior that undermines the positive spirit of the game.
While SDSU worked to control the crowd, the issue of Fleming’s inclusion has also caused ripples within SJSU’s own ranks. Blaire Fleming’s presence has led to internal discord, with at least five teams forfeiting games in protest of playing against SJSU’s women’s team. One of Fleming’s teammates, Brook Slusser, publicly voiced her frustrations, accusing the school of prioritizing Fleming’s well-being over that of the team.
“We’ve had meetings, and it’s a lot of just checking in on Blaire. … We were like, ‘What about us?’” Slusser told Blaze News. According to her, the team was instructed to avoid identifying Fleming’s gender and to respect Fleming’s self-identification.
Slusser’s outspoken stance has reportedly led to retaliation. SJSU’s head coach, Todd Kress, has allegedly filed Title IX complaints against players, including Slusser, for using masculine pronouns when referring to Fleming. According to an assistant coach, Kress described such remarks as threats to the rights of transgender athletes. This assistant coach has since been suspended.
The situation at SJSU highlights a larger debate in collegiate and professional sports. Advocates for transgender athletes argue that inclusion is a matter of civil rights and equality. However, critics contend that allowing transgender women—who were born male and may retain physical advantages—to compete in women’s sports undermines fairness and puts female athletes at a disadvantage.
Fleming’s case is a flashpoint in this debate. While some teammates, coaches, and officials support her inclusion, others feel sidelined. Slusser’s complaints suggest a growing frustration among female athletes who believe their voices are being ignored in favor of protecting the rights of one teammate.
Despite repeated requests for comment, SJSU head coach Todd Kress has remained silent on the controversy. He has not addressed whether he believes Fleming’s participation is fair to other athletes or explained the complaints filed against his players. His silence has only fueled criticism from those who feel the school’s leadership is failing to address legitimate concerns about fairness and equity.
As protests like those seen at Saturday’s game continue, schools and athletic conferences will face mounting pressure to address the complex intersection of inclusion and fairness in sports. The controversy surrounding Blaire Fleming is unlikely to fade anytime soon, as more athletes and fans push for clear policies that balance the rights of transgender athletes with the integrity of women’s competitions.
For now, the divide remains stark, and events like this volleyball match serve as a reminder of the intense emotions and high stakes involved in this ongoing debate. Whether the NCAA and its member schools can navigate these turbulent waters remains to be seen.
5 Comments
Wanna stop the nonsense? Have all ‘women only’ teams shun/boycott any teams with ‘male’ participants. As Dennis Miller often said, “The Country Has Gone Crazy, Billy!”
A good kick in the balls would clear up HIS gender confusion!!
The coach sounds like a major piece of excrement. I hope he loses his entire team with the exception of this sick individual. And, then I would never hire this guy again.
“Whether the NCAA and its member schools can navigate these turbulent waters remains to be seen.”
There wouldn’t be any “turbulent waters” if biological males, pretending to be females, were banned from playing in Women’s Sports. Here’s an idea. Make the Trannies form their own teams and play against each other. The way they play as if they are out for blood would be very entertaining. I might even buy tickets to watch them beat the crap out of each other.
The teams that refused to play were right. No play- no pay. At the end of the day, money talks. No one will pay to see some gay guy lord it over the females. All their games should be boycotted.