The San Jose State women’s volleyball team has been rocked by a mass exodus of players at the end of a season marred by the controversy surrounding trans player Blaire Fleming.
Multiple opponents declined to play SJSU in the 2024 season due to concerns about Fleming, a biological male, allowing the Spartans to advance to the postseason with a 12-6 conference record after posting seven wins by forfeit.
The redshirt senior’s inclusion on the team was the subject of intense debate throughout the campaign, with a number of female college volleyball players – including some of their teammates – even filing a lawsuit to prevent them from participating.
That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by a federal judge, allowing Fleming to play in every game SJSU played in the championship game last month.
And in light of the controversy over their trans teammate, the San Francisco Chronicle (via Fox News) reports that seven Spartan players have now entered the transfer portal.
The team is preparing for a mass exodus despite Fleming being ineligible after completing a fourth collegiate season in 2024.
The SJSU women’s volleyball team has seen a mass exodus following the Blaire Fleming saga
The inclusion of Fleming, a biological male, on SJSU’s team sparked major controversy
In a statement to Fox News, SJSU addressed the wave of players who have chosen to transfer ahead of the 2025 season, insisting they fully respect their decision.
“Student athletes have the ability to make decisions about their athletic careers, and we have the utmost respect for that,” the statement said.
Head coach Todd Kress recently admitted that the 2024 season was one of the “toughest” of his life amid the Fleming controversy, while also previously lashing out at trolls who targeted several members of the team.
‘I am very proud that we fought as a team all season. These players put their love for the game above all else to play every game as a team,” Kress said.
“This has been one of the most difficult seasons I have ever experienced, and I know this is also true for many of our players and staff who have supported us throughout.
“Maintaining our focus on the field and ensuring the overall safety and well-being of my players amid the external noise have been my priorities.”
Despite concerns about Fleming, SJSU suffered a loss to Colorado State in the Mountain West tournament final last month.
The trans athlete failed to opt out of college volleyball on a high after losing 27-25, 25-20, 23-25, 25-16, a result that earned the Spartans the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament with 64 teams.
Now seven of Fleming’s team-mates have entered the transfer portal while looking to make a move
SJSU coach Todd Kress admitted the 2024 season was one of the ‘hardest’ of his life
The Biden administration has withdrawn a proposed rule change for trans athletes in schools
After a controversial women’s volleyball season, schools retain the right to decide which teams trans athletes can join following outgoing President Joe Biden’s latest U-turn.
The Biden administration on Friday withdrew a proposed rule change that would have prevented schools from banning trans athletes from teams that match their gender identity.
The administration notified the public that it had withdrawn the proposed rule from the Federal Register.
The government had proposed the rule in April 2023 and invited the public to comment. On Friday it said it had received more than 150,000 public comments.
Many of the comments were against the proposed rule, the administration wrote in its Federal Register filing. That, along with multiple ongoing lawsuits related to gender identity and sports, led the government “to refrain from regulating this area at this time.”