Boise State women’s volleyball loses to SJSU, trans player: EXCLUSIVE

The Boise State University women’s volleyball team has forfeited its match against San Jose State University, originally scheduled for Saturday, September 28, due to safety concerns for female student-athletes in the collegiate women’s volleyball area.

San Jose State University features a transgender player, Blaire Fleming, and is undefeated this season. The record now stands at 10-0.

OutKick received the exclusive statement:

“Boise State volleyball will not play its scheduled match at San Jose State on Saturday, September 28. Per Mountain West Conference policy, the Conference will record the match as a forfeit and a loss to Boise State. The Broncos will next compete on October 1. 3 against Air Force.”

The NCAA also released a statement, first obtained by OutKick, about the forfeit:

“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 in all NCAA championships.”

Blaire Fleming continues to dominate women’s volleyball (CREDIT: SJSU Athletics)

((CREDIT: SJSU Athletics))

This week, the Mountain West Conference, which hosts SJSU, was alerted by the ICONS organization to growing concerns about the safety of female athletes and hesitancy to compete against Blaire Fleming because of apparent physical advantages of a man competing against women.

READ: ICONS sends letter to Mountain West schools, calling for action against SJSU trans athlete Blaire Fleming

The letter read in part: “Over the past several weeks at the Mountain West Conference (MWC), we have spoken with distraught student-athletes and their parents, coaches and administrators about a crisis in MWC women’s volleyball.”

Riley Gaines, who worked with ICONS in the lawsuit against the NCAA, released a statement to OutKick regarding BSU’s decision to withdraw from the game against SJSU.

Gaines applauded BSU’s decision to prioritize the safety of its female players — and highlighted SJSU’s inaction in allowing Blaire Fleming to continue competing.

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

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

EXCLUSIVE: Southern Utah refuses to play San Jose State Volleyball, which has transgender players

Boise State is the third school to consider dropping out or dropping a game against San Jose State.

Southern Utah did not comment on their withdrawal from a game on September 14.

ICONS is putting pressure on Mountain West Conference schools to take action against SJSU’s Blaire Fleming. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

The University of Wyoming has reportedly considered canceling its upcoming competition on October 5.

With BSU’s withdrawal, other schools are under increasing pressure to take a stand by refusing to compete against Fleming or risk injuries to their players by pushing them out to compete against a 1-year male opponent .80 meters long.

Fleming’s own teammate and SJSU women’s volleyball co-captain Brooke Slusser joined ICONS’ ongoing lawsuit to hold the NCAA responsible for the reckless promulgation of the transgender eligibility protocol.

Slusser, who had practiced with Fleming and previously sat with Brayden (“Blaire”) without knowing he was transgender, cited safety concerns in her decision to join the lawsuit.

The letter from ICONS adds: “Slusser decides to terrorize practices and games in which a man hits volleyballs into the faces and bodies of young women at speeds of more than 130 km per hour, making a mockery of fair competition.”

ICONS, Gaines, OutKick and others are stepping up efforts to protect women’s sports from continued attacks on Title IX and, by extension, vulnerable female student-athletes.

Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela

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