The San Jose State women’s volleyball team is set to play in the Mountain West Conference semifinals with a shot at the NCAA Tournament on the line. However, the team has faced controversy as five schools previously forfeited matches against them in the regular season, with some citing concerns about fairness in women’s sports and protecting women’s sports.
The controversy has centered around a trans player named Blaire Fleming, with San Jose State captain Brooke Slusser speaking out about the school’s handling of the situation. Despite this, a judge rejected a request to block the San Jose State player from competing in the tournament on the grounds of being transgender, with the ruling upheld by an appeals court.
San Jose State is set to face the winner of the match between Utah State and Boise State in the semifinals, with the possibility of being sent directly to the conference title game if either team forfeits again. The conference champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Both Utah State and Boise State are reviewing the court’s order regarding the transgender player, with the potential for further controversy surrounding the matchups. The San Jose State team is looking forward to starting Mountain West Conference tournament competition as they maintain their commitment to creating an inclusive, fair, and respectful environment for all students participating in sports.
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