San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team is facing a turbulent offseason, with seven players entering the NCAA transfer portal. The program is reeling after a season plagued by internal conflicts, legal battles, and a national controversy involving a transgender athlete, Blaire Fleming. The fallout has highlighted challenges in balancing inclusivity, team dynamics, and the broader public’s perception in collegiate sports.
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A Season Marked by Forfeits, Allegations, and Fallout
The 2024 volleyball season at San Jose State University (SJSU) will likely be remembered as one of its most tumultuous. The Spartans forfeited eight matches, several players faced threats, and their head coach, Todd Kress, described the experience as one of the most challenging of his career. The turmoil was underscored by disputes involving Fleming, whose participation sparked legal actions and divided the team.
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Despite making it to the Mountain West Conference championship game, SJSU’s season ended in a loss to Colorado State. This marked the end of Fleming’s collegiate career but left a lingering impact on the program, as evidenced by the exodus of seven players.
Legal Challenges and Internal Strife
The controversies began to escalate in September when team co-captain Brooke Slusser joined a lawsuit against the NCAA. Slusser alleged that the organization failed to disclose Fleming’s gender identity, resulting in what she described as uncomfortable and unsafe conditions. She claimed she had been forced to share changing and sleeping spaces with Fleming without prior knowledge of the athlete’s assigned gender at birth.
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Further complicating matters, Slusser and several other players from the Mountain West Conference filed another lawsuit in November, accusing SJSU of prioritizing Fleming over other players. This lawsuit also included allegations that Fleming had schemed to have Slusser struck in the face with a volleyball during a game against Colorado State—a claim that an internal investigation later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Coaching Staff Under Fire
The controversy took another turn when assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose was suspended after filing a Title IX complaint. She accused the university of favoritism toward Fleming and raised concerns about Fleming’s alleged plot against Slusser. Batie-Smoose’s suspension further eroded team morale, with Slusser revealing that many players felt they had lost a trusted confidant.
“After we found out that she was released, a lot of the team just kind of broke down,” Slusser shared. “One of my teammates even said, ‘I don’t feel safe anymore.’”
Players also expressed frustration with head coach Todd Kress, accusing him of minimizing their concerns and prioritizing damage control over their well-being. Slusser stated, “You can’t truly voice how you’re feeling without them just trying to cover it up or act like it’s all OK.”
The Role of Forfeitures in Escalating Tensions
The controversy was further fueled by opposing teams forfeiting matches against SJSU. Boise State forfeited two regular-season games and one semifinal match against the Spartans, allowing them to advance to the conference finals. While these forfeitures technically boosted SJSU’s record, they also amplified the controversy surrounding Fleming’s participation.
Coach Kress lamented the fallout from these forfeitures, stating, “Sadly, others who for years have played this same team without incident chose not to play us this season. Each forfeiture announcement unleashed appalling, hateful messages directed at our student-athletes and staff.”
A Fractured Team and the Road Ahead
Despite the chaos, the team managed to find brief moments of camaraderie. During their final road trip to the Mountain West tournament in Las Vegas, the players attended a magic show together and shared a Thanksgiving meal with their families. However, these moments were not enough to prevent the mass departure of players.
The departure of seven players leaves the program facing a significant rebuild, both on and off the court. As SJSU gears up for the 2025 season, it will need to navigate the challenges of replacing key players, rebuilding trust within the program, and addressing the lingering controversy.
Broader Implications for College Sports
The SJSU volleyball saga has brought national attention to the challenges of integrating transgender athletes into collegiate sports. While some hail the inclusion of transgender athletes as a step toward equality, others raise concerns about fairness and transparency. The lawsuits filed against SJSU and the NCAA reflect these broader societal debates, with critics questioning whether current policies adequately balance inclusivity with competitive equity.
Fleming’s participation and the ensuing controversy have also reignited discussions about how colleges handle such sensitive issues. The SJSU case underscores the importance of clear communication, robust support systems for athletes, and the need for policies that foster mutual respect and understanding.
Looking to the Future
As the Spartans prepare for a new chapter, the program must contend with the aftermath of a divisive season. Restoring the team’s reputation, rebuilding the roster, and addressing lingering grievances will be crucial for SJSU’s recovery. Meanwhile, the broader sports world will likely continue grappling with the complex questions raised by this case.
For now, the mass exodus of players serves as a stark reminder of the challenges that arise when the principles of inclusion, fairness, and team cohesion collide. Whether SJSU can rise above the controversy and emerge stronger remains to be seen, but the lessons learned from this season will undoubtedly shape the future of collegiate sports.
