Blaire Fleming, a San Jose State volleyball player and leader in kills for the team, has become a central figure in the ongoing national debate over transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Fleming’s remarkable spiking ability has driven the Spartans to the Mountain West tournament final, but it has also drawn criticism from opponents, including President-elect Donald Trump.
The controversy intensified after Boise State forfeited a semifinal match, citing issues surrounding Fleming’s inclusion. While Fleming’s athletic prowess has been undeniable, critics argue that competing against women provides an unfair advantage due to height and strength disparities.
Fleming, who stands 6’1″, has shattered records since high school, including setting a single-game kill record during senior year at John Champe High School in Virginia.
Fleming’s spiking ability has propelled San Jose State back to the conference final for the second time since 2022, Fleming’s first season with the team.
As per Fox News, even without such forfeitures, Fleming’s physical talent has helped San Jose State secure seven conference wins this season.
Who is Blaire Fleming?
- Born in 2002 at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and raised in Aldie, Virginia, Fleming made waves in high school volleyball. Playing for John Champe High School, Fleming, standing at 6-foot-1, towered over the average women’s college volleyball recruit height of 5-foot-9.
- In 2019, Fleming’s senior year, the athlete broke the school record with 266 kills in a season, leading the team to a 19-win season and being named MVP. A highlight reel on Hudl showcased Fleming’s leaping and spiking abilities, with opponents often unable to react to the powerful spikes.
- Fleming began college at Coastal Carolina University during the COVID-affected 2020 season, where the player immediately made an impact, averaging 1.86 kills per set.
- However, after a stellar first year, Fleming entered the transfer portal, leaving Coastal Carolina and eventually joining San Jose State.
- The transfer drew attention due to South Carolina’s “Save Women’s Sports Act,” barring transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. California, by contrast, has long allowed transgender athletes to play on teams matching their gender identity.
- Former head coach Trent Kersten recruited Fleming to San Jose State on a full scholarship, as detailed in a lawsuit filed against the Mountain West Conference. Allegations surfaced that the recruitment decision wasn’t openly communicated to all team members.
- The controversy around Fleming deepened as former and current teammates filed lawsuits alleging discrimination and unsafe playing conditions. Former players Alyssa Sugai and Elle Patterson claim they lost opportunities and scholarships due to Fleming’s physical dominance.
- Sugai reportedly faced depression after struggling to secure playing time, while Patterson alleges the team reneged on a scholarship offer for financial reasons.
- Current co-captain Brooke Slusser, another plaintiff, claims she was not informed of Fleming’s transgender identity when they were assigned to share living quarters. Slusser alleges this breach of trust, alongside an alleged plot by Fleming to have her spiked in the face during a match, has made her feel “unsafe” within the programme.
- The Mountain West conducted an investigation into the allegations but found insufficient evidence to support the claims. However, Slusser’s attorney has questioned the validity of this investigation.
- Despite the ongoing legal and personal challenges, Fleming and Slusser continue to be one of the most effective duos in the Mountain West Conference. Fleming is second in kills per set, and the Spartans hold the third-best hitting percentage in the league. Slusser has assisted in setting up Fleming’s spikes, despite filing lawsuits against the NCAA and the Mountain West.
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