Women's college volleyball team loses game to opposing team with transgender player

A women's college volleyball game has been canceled due to controversy surrounding the presence of a transgender player.

Boise State announced the cancellation of Saturday's game against San Jose State on the school's athletics website, without providing a specific reason.

“Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled game at San Jose State on Saturday, September 28,” the statement said. “Per Mountain West Conference policy, the conference will record the game as a forfeit and a loss for Boise State.” “The Broncos will next face Air Force on October 3.”

Meanwhile, the Mountain West Conference has been informed by the Independent Council on Women's Sports (ICONS) of female student-athlete safety concerns regarding Blaire Fleming, a redshirt junior at San Jose State who is reportedly transgender.

Boise State's exact concerns were not directly addressed. However, one of Fleming's teammates, Brooke Slusser, has admitted that Fleming is biologically male, according to Outkick. Fleming was granted permission by San Jose State University to play for the school's women's volleyball team for three seasons and will join the team in 2022.

A recent volleyball game was canceled after Boise State refused to play San Jose State

“Slusser competed for SJSU and roomed with Blaire Fleming, a member of the SJSU women's volleyball team, for most of the 2023 season, unaware that Fleming was a transgender man who was in the U.S. due to NCAA guidelines SJSU women's team could compete,” reads a comment in part of the motion filed in federal court this week and obtained by DailyMail.com.

The motion further alleges that Slusser expressed safety concerns to school officials. Additionally, Slusser claims she was instructed by the school not to discuss the gender identities of teammates.

Outkick has published portions of the ICONS letter to the Mountain West Conference.

“Over the past few weeks, we have spoken throughout the Mountain West Conference (MWC) with distraught student-athletes and their parents, coaches and administrators about a crisis in MWC women’s volleyball,” the letter to the conference said, according to Outkick.

Riley Gaines, a critic of trans athletes in women's sports who has ties to both ICONS and Outkick, issued her own statement on the Fox-owned website.

The motion further alleges that Slusser expressed safety concerns to school officials

“I commend the Boise State athletic department and everyone involved in the decision to forfeit their game against undefeated San Jose State,” Gaines wrote. “Some principles go beyond winning on the field, and the safety and well-being of female athletes is part of them.”

“It is encouraging to see more and more institutions prioritizing fairness and athlete safety over forced inclusion.” I hope more universities follow the lead of Boise State and Southern Utah and stand up for what is right and the integrity of the Protect women’s sports.”

Gaines refrained from addressing specific safety concerns.

San Jose State, meanwhile, declined to address the gender identity of any of its players.

“We operate our program in accordance with NCAA and Mountain West Conference regulations,” it said in a statement to DailyMail.com. “Our student-athletes are in full compliance with NCAA rules and regulations.

“We do not address students’ gender identity as they are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).”

The NCAA has since released a statement canceling the game, which resulted in the Spartans' record improving to 10-0. However, the statement failed to address the allegations made by ICONS and Outkick.

“College sports are the premier stage for women’s sports in America and NCAA members will continue to promote Title IX, make unprecedented investments in women’s sports and ensure fair competition for all student-athletes at all NCAA championships,” the statement said .

Boise State is reportedly the third school to decline or consider withdrawing from a scheduled game against San Jose State.