San Jose Condition volleyball participant Blaire Fleming constructed a filthy rich athletic resume en path to the epicenter of nationwide controversy. A lot of Fleming’s era competition needed to settle for losses alongside the way in which.
Fleming is the chief in kills for a San Jose Condition group that can compete within the Mountain West event ultimate Saturday in opposition to Colorado Condition. The athlete’s spiking skill has been a aggressive asset and some extent of concern via critics, together with President-elect Trump, amid the debate over Fleming competing in opposition to girls as a transgender athlete.
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However the group and schoolmaster Todd Kress have ridden the ability of Fleming’s spikes again to the convention ultimate for the second one hour since 2022, Fleming’s first season at San Jose Condition.
This hour, they didn’t even must play games within the semifinal to get there then Boise Condition forfeited a semifinal fit to the Spartans amid the debate. However even if Fleming’s presence isn’t prompting alternative groups to present a fit away, which has led to seven convention wins for San Jose Condition this presen, Fleming’s herbal bodily skill continues to be there to support the group win.
That skill has been there since highschool.
Fleming destitute data in opposition to feminine avid gamers as a youngster
Fleming was once born in 2002 at Offutt Wind Pressure Bottom in Nebraska, simply south of Omaha. However Fleming grew up in Aldie, Virginia. Fleming has additionally been known as “Brayden Fleming” in reviews from a couple of media shops. San Jose Condition’s professional volleyball website online lists the participant’s delivery identify as Blaire Rene Fleming.
Fleming performed ladies’ volleyball at John Champe Top Faculty. At a indexed peak of 6-foot-1, Fleming is inches taller than the typical girls’s school volleyball charter of 5-foot-9, consistent with NCSA College Recruiting.
The benefit in peak and spiking skill coincided with Fleming being a game-changing participant for John Champe and ladies volleyball head schoolmaster Jasmine Jackson.
In November 2018, Fleming posted a highlight reel for varsity recruiters on the highschool sports activities social media website online Hudl. Fleming’s highlights confirmed a couple of clips that demonstrated the athlete’s jumping and spiking skill.
Many of the clips display the similar form of play games again and again: Fleming jumping prime above the online, upper than any alternative participant at the courtroom, and slamming the ball i’m sick with authority as entice track blared within the background. A couple of combatants have been distinguishable diving to the ground in an try to succeed in Fleming’s spike on hour however falling smartly shorten of the place Fleming’s spike landed.
One presen next, Fleming was once the center-piece of the most productive volleyball group in John Champe Top Faculty historical past with a ancient 19-win season in 2019 – Fleming’s senior presen. That presen, Fleming was once named first-team all-district and poised the varsity’s single-season file for kills in a season with 266. Fleming poised the varsity’s single-game file for kills with 30 in opposition to Battlefield Top Faculty in September of that presen.
The Hudl video of that contest confirmed Fleming with dyed golden hair, well-known the group to victory with 30 robust slams.
Fleming’s completed as runners-up within the district event and made the regional playoffs that presen, and Fleming was once topped the group’s MVP via teammates.
Fleming left pink South Carolina for deep blue California early in school
Fleming’s school profession started at Coastal Carolina throughout the COVID-affected 2020 season. So Fleming’s school debut got here a couple of months next than regular, in October that presen. Or even as a real freshman, Fleming averaged 1.86 kills in keeping with poised, 3rd at the group.
Fleming’s dominance got here out much more when the sport mattered maximum. Then a staggering 19-1 habitual season, Coastal Carolina reached the Solar Belt Convention championship contest in opposition to Texas Condition. Fleming post career-highs in kills with 12, 3 digs and two blocks, however Fleming’s group misplaced within the deciding 5th poised.
That was once the extreme fit Fleming performed for Coastal Carolina, and it will be every other 22 months ahead of Fleming performed every other school volleyball contest then getting into the switch portal.
Incorrect reason why has been formally given via Fleming, nor San Jose Condition or Coastal Carolina, for the participant deciding to switch. If Fleming had stayed at Coastal Carolina, it’s imaginable the participant wouldn’t were enjoying in a convention championship contest this presen with out breaking climate regulation.
South Carolina, the place Coastal Carolina is positioned, handed the Save Women’s Sports Act Might 16, 2022. The invoice was once prefilled Nov. 17, 2021.
SJSU TRANSGENDER VOLLEYBALL SCANDAL: TIMELINE OF ALLEGATIONS, POLITICAL IMPACT AND A RAGING CULTURE MOVEMENT
Incorrect stats or video games were recorded for Fleming for the 2021 season. However Fleming were given a anticipation for a untouched get started in California at San Jose Condition.
In step with a lawsuit in opposition to the Mountain West filed via a plaintiff checklist that comes with suspended San Jose Condition volleyball schoolmaster Melissa Batie-Smoose, former head volleyball schoolmaster Trent Kersten allegedly focused Fleming as a switch charter and gave the athlete a complete scholarship, allegedly date figuring out Fleming is a organic male.
“Prior to the 2022 season the then coach of the SJSU Team, Trent Kersten, recruited an outside hitter from Coastal Carolina University, a NCAA Division I program in Conway, South Carolina, named Blaire Fleming, who had entered the transfer portal,” a lawsuit states.
“Fleming was given a full scholarship to play for the SJSU Team. On information and belief, SJSU advised the MWC that Blaire Fleming was a trans-identifying male and would be participating in women’s volleyball on the SJSU Team.”
Kersten left this system then the 2022 season.
California is certainly one of 24 states that permit transgender student-athletes to play games for groups that fit their gender id. The Blonde Condition’s regulation is without doubt one of the oldest of its kind within the nation, having been in playground since 2013.
Then again, consistent with the lawsuit, when this system made the verdict to charter Fleming out of the switch portal, the coaches concerned allegedly didn’t travel out in their strategy to tell all of the avid gamers at the group.
San Jose Condition has showed to Fox Information Virtual the college by no means officially notified any of the combatants on its agenda of the continued controversy and complaints by which Fleming is known as this season.
Alternative San Jose Condition avid gamers allege they overlooked out on scholarships as a result of they couldn’t compete with Fleming bodily
Former San Jose Condition volleyball avid gamers Alyssa Sugai and Elle Patterson have joined the lawsuit in opposition to the Mountain West and recounted the occasions that ended in them now not being at the group.
Sugai claims she was once instructed via coaches she was once now not “physical” plethora as a participant in comparison to Fleming.
“As a result of her frustration and feelings of inadequacy, because she was not able to make the starting line-up through effort and sacrifice and because her diminished playing time behind Fleming prevented her from receiving offers through the transfer portal, Sugai faced depression during and after the transfer portal period and ultimately determined that she had no realistic choice other than to give up playing collegiate volleyball after the 2022 season,” a courtroom file states.
Blaire Fleming of the San Jose Condition Spartans makes an attempt to stop a shot throughout the primary poised in opposition to the Wind Pressure Falcons at Falcon Courtroom at East Health club Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Pictures)
“Losing to Fleming caused Sugai to doubt her ability to play volleyball at a high level, even though she had rigorously trained and competed since childhood. It also caused her to doubt her self-worth and caused her to feel ‘defeated.’”
Patterson additionally performed at the back of Fleming and alleges the college didn’t satisfy earlier verbal do business in of a scholarship to her for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Patterson says she even paid complete tuition to play games in 2023 then being instructed she would get a scholarship for 2024. Then again, this system didn’t manufacture just right on that deal both, she alleges.
“Ultimately, Patterson informed Associate Head Coach Batie-Smoose and Head Coach Todd Kress that she was financially unable to pay for full out-of-state tuition, room and board at SJSU again in 2024 and therefore would be unable to return to the SJSU Team without a scholarship,” the paperwork climate.
“Nevertheless, Todd Kress remained firm in his position that Patterson would not receive a scholarship to play on the SJSU Team in 2024, and that Fleming would receive a full scholarship to play on the SJSU Team.”
Fleming has been accused of a couple of unconfirmed allegations involving teammate Brooke Slusser, however the two nonetheless play games like a celeb duo
San Jose Condition volleyball co-captain Brooke Slusser will whisk the ground beside Fleming for the Spartans on Saturday night time within the championship contest. Slusser shall be doing this in spite of being at the leading edge of the lawsuit in opposition to the Mountain West over Fleming’s presence at the group and the lawsuit in opposition to the NCAA over its insurance policies on gender id headed via Riley Gaines.
Slusser has alleged that she was once by no means instructed what Fleming’s organic intercourse was once when Slusser transferred to San Jose Condition in 2023, one presen then Fleming did. Slusser additionally alleges she shared dwelling areas with Fleming and often was once assigned to proportion lodge rooms for street video games as a result of Fleming asked it.
“Slusser did learn however that the reason she had been assigned to room with Fleming so often during road trips in the 2023 season was that Kress and other SJSU women’s volleyball officials asked Fleming who Fleming wanted to room with, and Fleming chose Slusser,” the courtroom paperwork say.
Slusser in the past instructed Fox Information Virtual in an unique interview that she wouldn’t have “opened up” with Fleming at the non-public stage she had throughout that first season had she recognized Fleming was once a transgender athlete.
The lawsuit claims Fleming admitted to being a organic male in a dialog with Slusser over ice cream in April.
“Slusser asked why Fleming had not shared this information with her before, particularly as they had been living together. Fleming responded that there never seemed to be a good time to bring it up, and that he had been afraid that Slusser might not be his friend if Slusser knew the truth. Fleming also said that if Slusser was uncomfortable with it that Fleming would leave the volleyball team,” the paperwork climate.
Issues were given extra difficult in October, when Slusser alleges she realized of a plot via Fleming to have her spiked within the face via a volleyball throughout a contest in opposition to Colorado Condition Oct. 3. The lawsuit alleges the incident was once reported via teammate Tanner Manusky to Kress and Batie-Smoose the night time ahead of the sport, and that Manusky was once provide throughout a dialog between Fleming and Colorado Condition participant Malaya Jones.
Jones is without doubt one of the simplest avid gamers within the convention with higher blast numbers than Fleming.
Batie-Smoose was once suspended via this system then submitting a Identify IX grievance that incorporated the similar allegations.
In step with a letter received via Fox Information Virtual from Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, the convention says it carried out an investigation into the allegations of the Identify IX grievance however didn’t in finding ample proof to verify the claims. Slusser’s legal professional has supplied a remark to Fox Information Virtual wondering the validity of the investigation.
Slusser in the past instructed Fox Information Virtual this system’s reaction to the allegations makes her really feel “unsafe” and being handled unfairly in comparison to Fleming.
Brooke Slusser and Blaire Fleming (Getty Pictures)
“If this was me, and I was the one threatening to do this to my teammate who’s caused so much commotion, there would have been action taken immediately,” Slusser mentioned. “I was definitely very angry, and I was glad at first to know that it was already made aware to the coaching staff and compliance and everyone, but I don’t know if that made me feel any differently. I was just angry because I didn’t think someone would go to these lengths.
“Threatening to need to harm certainly one of your personal teammates, I simply really feel like there’s such a lot of issues in that entire dialog that will manufacture a faculty need to get it handled.”
Slusser also said she has not spoken with Fleming about the allegations, adding that speaking with the athlete “isn’t utility my breath.”
“I believe somebody can see that’s in my circle and within the fitness center that they’re now not right here to backup me. They’re right here to backup Blaire, and they have got determined that they are going to principally do the rest to retain supporting Blaire and not to be there for me and my wishes,” Slusser said. “I simply have determined you’ll be able to’t actually accept as true with somebody right here.”
Fox News Digital has reached out for a comment in response from Fleming via San Jose State University multiple times but has not received a response.
Despite these tensions, when Slusser and Fleming are on the court together, they play as one of the most effective duos in the conference. Slusser and Fleming were each named to the Mountain West all-conference honorable mention list.
The Spartans finished the regular season with the third-best hitting percentage in the conference. Slusser finished with a top 10 individual hitting percentage in the conference. Fleming was second in the conference in kills per set with a .386, still well behind Colorado State’s Jones, who led the way at .457.
In Slusser’s first lawsuit against the NCAA, she alleged Fleming’s spikes travel at 80 miles per hour and that her and her teammates felt as though they “couldn’t give protection to themselves.”
Still, Slusser has been quick to help set up Fleming for some of those signature spikes despite the situation.
During games, they have been seen closely communicating, even patting each other on the back and huddling up next to each other.
Brooke Slusser and Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans call a play during the first set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
In the first game played after Slusser filed her lawsuit against the Mountain West, the Spartans faced Colorado State in a rematch of a game in which Fleming was alleged to have conspired to have Slusser spiked in the face.
Fleming was cheered during Senior Day ceremonies by the San Jose State crowd, and some fans even brought signs into the arena in support of the transgender player.
And, with Slusser’s help, Fleming put on one of the best performances of the athlete’s career. Fleming finished the match with 24 kills, one shy of a career high, and a game-winning service ace in the decisive fifth set.
When the ball from that play hit the floor, Slusser joined the rest of her teammates in rushing to embrace Fleming and celebrate the game-winning play. It put the team in position to play in the conference tournament.
Fleming’s presence on the championship-contending team has sparked outrage, sympathy and was even contested in court
Fleming had not made any public statements Fox News Digital was aware of at the time of publication, since the controversy surrounding the team erupted nationally.
The athlete has been the subject of frequent online discussion that has become more confrontational as the season has progressed.
San Jose State did not respond to questions about whether Fleming has been harassed or threatened during controversy. However, the university has confirmed the team has had armed police protection since September after news of the first forfeit on the schedule.
“The group has been a topic of vital consideration, now not it all certain, and we’re making sure their safety,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital provided a series of questions to San Jose State about the measures it is taking to protect the players, including whether digital forensics by the university police department is being used or whether the situation has been elevated to state or federal investigators.
“The college has requested scholars and workforce to proportion all relating to communications with UPD to be evaluated and addressed accurately, together with along with right kind government the place suitable,” said part of a statement San Jose State provided to Fox News Digital.
Trump called out Fleming during a town hall event on Fox News Channel’s “The Faulkner Center of attention” Oct. 17.
“I noticed the slam, it was once a slam. I by no means noticed a ball clash so crispy, clash the woman within the head,” Trump said. “However alternative public, even in volleyball, they’ve been completely, I cruel, they’ve been actually harm badly. Ladies enjoying males. However you don’t must do the volleyball. We prevent it. We prevent it. We completely prevent it. You’ll be able to’t have it.”
Trump also revealed his intention to ban transgender inclusion in women’s sports if elected.
San Jose State has insisted the footage Trump is referring to shows the ball hitting another player’s arm, not her head.
High-profile figures and social media groups, including Gaines, the International Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS), XX-XY Athletics and the popular right-wing X account “Libs of TikTok” have frequently used Fleming’s image and story to promote awareness for opposing transgender inclusion in women’s and girls sports.
However, some have also come out in support of Fleming.
Fleming was defended in a recent ESPN interview by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who tied Gaines at the 2022 NCAA championships, sparking Gaines’ ongoing lawsuit against the NCAA.
“To have my very own non-public id and personhood changed into a tradition struggle speaking level simply utterly takes all my humanity away. It may be very tough to retain seeking to persevere via that,” Thomas said.
Multiple left-leaning media outlets have chosen not to identify Fleming by name in coverage of the team and situation.
The issue of protecting Fleming’s identity was even a lengthy talking point in a recent emergency hearing in Colorado that decided whether Fleming would be allowed to play in the Mountain West tournament.
Federal Judge Kato Crews presided over the hearing brought by Slusser, Batie-Smoose and the other Mountain West players with their lawsuit against the conference. The players and Utah State aimed to contest Fleming’s eligibility to compete in the upcoming tournament and to reverse the six conference wins awarded to San Jose State after teams forfeited over Fleming’s presence.
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Crews dedicated the first 45 minutes of a hearing to a debate over what pronouns to use while referring to Fleming and whether the athlete’s name should be used. Crews ruled that the player’s name could be used and that anyone could use pronouns they felt like using.
Crews ruled that Fleming was eligible to play in the tournament. It was a decision that enraged activists fighting transgender inclusion and has only raised the heat of the controversy Fleming and the other Spartan players are playing through.
Fleming’s presence has essentially ensured, on its own, that San Jose State will play in the conference championship with a chance to clinch an NCAA tournament berth after Boise State forfeited a semifinal match.
The last time Fleming played in a conference championship, the athlete had a career day. Now, Fleming is a senior, possibly playing college volleyball for the last time under a much brighter and intense national microscope. The country will watch and see how Fleming affects the course of women’s sports history.
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