Utah State has become the latest women’s volleyball team to cancel a game against San Jose State University (SJSU) over the inclusion of a towering 6’1″ male player.
After it was revealed that SJSU has a male athlete on the team who claims to be a “transgender woman,” Utah State pulled out of the game.
Joining Wyoming and Boise State, who dropped out earlier in the week, Southern Utah was the third Mountain West Conference team to drop out of a match against SJSU.
The fourth team to do so was Utah State.
SJSU has a large male athlete named Blaire Fleming, real name Brayden Fleming.
The male athlete, who towers above real female players, is giving SJSU the best start in program history.
The team recently lost for the first time and is now 9-1 overall.
Announcing the cancelation, Utah State issued a statement on its website, saying
“Utah State University will not participate in its scheduled October 23, 2024, volleyball match at San Jose State University.
“The University will abide by Mountain West Conference policy regarding how this match is recorded.”
However, the statement itself was shrouded in controversy.
SJSU reportedly demanded that the school take it down.
After the first reports of Utah State forfeiting the game surfaced, the statement on the school’s website mysteriously disappeared, OutKick reported.
It was later reported by the outlet that SJSU’s president pressured Utah State to remove the statement from its website.
The statement reappeared on the Utah State website a few hours later.
The school’s announcement mirrors that of the other university that chose to take a loss instead of dangerously competing against the male player.
However, they did not provide a specific reason for doing so.
Commenting on the scandal, SJSU player Brooke Slusser said:
“I think we all know the reason the games are canceled.”
In a post on X, reporter Alejandro Avila revealed that Slusser has received death threats since speaking out against her male teammate.
NEW: SJSU’s Brooke Slusser received death threats after speaking up against trans teammate Blaire Fleming.
Slusser courageously spoke up and is now being punished for it.
Police are also present SJSU’s match against CSU Thursday night.
Tragic news. pic.twitter.com/Guqe1Otv4F
— Alejandro Avila (@AlejandroAveela) October 4, 2024
At the same time, the University of Nevada has taken an opposing stance.
Nevada announced its intention to play in an upcoming SJSU game, despite the the inclusion of a male player.
“The University of Nevada volleyball team remains focused on its upcoming matches with UNLV and San Diego State and intends to play its remaining Mountain West schedule, including the match with San José State University on October 26,” the school said.
“The University will continue to abide by the NCAA, Mountain West Conference, and USA Volleyball rules and regulations as well as the laws and Constitution of the State of Nevada.”
Many suspected that Nevada would pull out of its October 26 matchup.
The mother of Nevada volleyball player Carissa Chainey gave an interview to the Daily Signal.
She remarked that she is “scared for every single player” who plays against Fleming, due to the higher risk of injury.
As for conference officials, they say these decisions are made by the schools themselves.
“The forfeits are following the current policy and will be accounted for in the conference standings,” a spokesperson said.
Due to the cancellation by Wyoming for October 5, SJSU’s next game is October 10 versus San Diego State University.
