Utah State University abandons women's volleyball match against San Jose State over transgender player Blaire Fleming controversy

The Utah State University has go the 4th assemblage to forfeit a lucifer against San Jose State amid contention implicit transgender player Blaire Fleming. 

Fleming, a redshirt elder successful their 3rd play connected San Jose State's roster, is astatine the halfway of a class-action suit filed against the NCAA aft it was revealed they were calved a biologic male. 

More than a twelve pistillate athletes, including the player's teammate Brooke Slusser and women's-rights activistic Riley Gaines, are accusing the NCAA of knowingly violating a instrumentality that prohibits sex-based favoritism by allowing a transgender subordinate to vie successful 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 connection released today, Utah State besides declared that they volition not beryllium participating successful a lucifer scheduled connected October 23 - notably without providing a wide crushed for doing so. 

'Utah State University volition not enactment successful its scheduled October 23, 2024, volleyball lucifer astatine San Jose State University,' it said successful a statement. 

'The University volition abide by Mountain West Conference argumentation regarding however this lucifer is recorded.' 

All 3 of the different universities besides did not supply a crushed for the forfeit. 

Fleming, who plays arsenic an extracurricular and right-side hitter, has enjoyed 2 seasons with San Jose State aft antecedently playing astatine Coastal Carolina. 

The 6ft 1in volleyball prima has helped the squad determination to 10-0 truthful acold this yearThe 6ft 1in volleyball prima has helped the squad determination to 10-0 truthful acold this year.

She is presently listed arsenic the second-best subordinate connected the team, with 103 kills and scoring 118.5 points this season.

The subordinate transferred from Coastal Carolina University successful South Carolina, wherever she was playing connected the women's team, soon aft the authorities passed the Save Women's Sports Bill, which would person banned her from playing connected pistillate teams. 

The player besides participated connected her precocious schoolhouse women's squad astatine John Champe High School in Virginia, according to Reduxx. 

San Jose State responded to the contention implicit its subordinate successful a connection to OutKick connected October 1 saying: 'It is disappointing that our SJSU pupil athletes, who are successful afloat compliance with NCAA and Mountain West rules and regulations, are being denied opportunities to compete.

'We are committed to supporting our student-athletes done these challenges and successful their quality to vie successful an inclusive, fair, harmless and respectful environment.'

Fleming's erstwhile roommate, Brooke Slusser, was the 1 who archetypal revealed that the subordinate had admitted to being biologically male, per Outkick.

Slusser claims successful the suit that she felt acrophobic for her information aft discovering Fleming was transgender, which she says she was unaware of contempt sharing rooms unneurotic connected squad trips.

The San Jose State co-captain besides expressed concerns astir Fleming competing against pistillate players connected the court. 

'Brooke estimates that Fleming’s spikes were traveling upward of 80 mph, which was faster than she had ever seen a pistillate deed a volleyball,' Slusser’s ailment read.

'The girls were doing everything they could to dodge Fleming’s spikes but inactive could not afloat support themselves.'

Riley Gaines, a agelong clip professional of trans athletes successful women's sports who has connections to some ICONS and Outkick, issued her ain connection to the Fox-owned website aft Boise State refused to play against San Jose State past month. 

'I commend Boise State's diversion section and everyone progressive successful the determination to forfeit their lucifer against undefeated San Jose State,' Gaines wrote.

'Some principles transcend winning connected the court, and the information and well-being of pistillate athletes is 1 of them.

'It's encouraging to witnesser a increasing fig of institutions prioritizing fairness and jock information implicit forced inclusion. 

'I anticipation to spot much universities travel the pb of Boise State and Southern Utah, lasting up for what's close and protecting the integrity of women's sports.' 

The NCAA already countered an aboriginal mentation of the lawsuit, saying the complainants can't record a enactment favoritism suit against the enactment arsenic it is simply a rule-making assemblage and not a authorities college. 

The enactment besides said the women can't penalize different authorities organizations for simply pursuing NCAA rules. 

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

Other universities that person 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.