San Jose State’s women’s volleyball team is set to have its seventh match scratch from its schedule amid the ongoing controversy over the school’s transgender player.
Multiple opponents have refused to play against San Jose State in recent months due to safety concerns over Blaire Fleming, who is a biological male.
Now, the University of Wyoming has added to the pile, forfeiting its second match of the season against San Jose Friday.
Wyoming also forfeited its first match against the Spartans at the start of October.
It marks San Jose’s seventh forfeited match of the season – and this first since Donald Trump’s election on Tuesday.
San Jose State has had a seventh match forfeited amid controversy over Blaire Fleming (pictured)
San Jose hit back in a statement, saying it is ‘deeply disappointed’ for its athletes in the wake of yet another missed match for the team.
‘Our athletes all comply with NCAA and Mountain West Conference policies and are eligible to play under the rules of those organizations,’ said the statement, via Fox.
‘Our volleyball team members have earned the right to compete, and we are deeply disappointed for them and with them that they are being denied those opportunities through cancellations and forfeits. We are also proud of how they have persevered through these challenges on the court.’
Southern Utah, Boise State, Utah State and Nevada have all joined Wyoming in opting to forfeit games against San Jose State this season.
Fleming, who is in their third season on the roster, is currently at the center of a class-action lawsuit filed against the NCAA, which is being accused by more than a dozen female athletes of knowingly violating a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination by allowing them to compete in women’s sports.
And according to Outkick , Fleming’s college has asked for money from Boise State and Utah State after saying they lost out as a result of the cancellations.
Both fixtures were slated to be hosted by the Spartans, meaning they were unable to cash in on game day revenue when they forfeited.
It is believed San Jose State has called for their two rivals to each pay a fee of $1,250.
Several schools have refused to play women’s volleyball against San Jose State’s trans player
San Jose State athletics director Jeff Konya is quoted as saying in an email to Boise State: ‘Your institution’s arbitrary decision not to play an otherwise eligible NCAA team has resulted in harm to SJSU financially and our institution’s brand.
‘We estimate we missed out on approximately $1,250 in game day revenue by not playing the [match] on Saturday when you add all of the various revenue sources (i.e., concessions, parking among others). I would ask to be made whole at the very least.’
Boise State confirmed that they did not pay San Jose State despite their demands, while it is unclear whether Utah State did so or not.
The University of Nevada was the most recent college to forfeit their women’s volleyball game against Fleming and the Spartans last month.
It came after Nevada players found themselves at odds with their school over the previously-scheduled fixture, as they released a statement saying they would not compete against San Jose State on October 26.
Fleming is currently at the center of a class-action lawsuit filed against the NCAA
Fleming has been cleared to play women’s volleyball for San Jose State for three seasons
‘We demand that our right to safety and fair competition on the court be upheld. We refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,’ the players said in a statement sent to OutKick .
Nevada initially refused to acknowledge the players’ decision and hit back in a statement of their own, saying it ‘does not represent’ the views of the school.
However, they finally agreed to forfeit the game against Fleming’s team, announcing that they would not have enough players to compete.
Fleming has been cleared by San Jose State to play for the SJSU women’s volleyball team for three seasons, joining in 2022.
