Blaire Fleming, a senior member of the San José State University women’s volleyball team, has once again found herself at the center of transgender athletes’ participation in collegiate sports after yet another apparent boycott.

The final blow came when the Boise State women’s volleyball team withdrew from the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament.

A statement from the team, which did not specifically reference Fleming, released Wednesday said: “The decision not to continue playing in the 2024 Mountain West Volleyball Championship tournament was not an easy one.”

“Our team overcame losses to earn a spot in the tournament field and battled to victory over Utah State in the first round on Wednesday. They should not pass up this opportunity while waiting for a more thoughtful and better system that serves all athletes. it added.

In response to NewsweekAt the request of the State of San José, a spokesperson for the State of San José said: “At this time of Thanksgiving, we are especially grateful for those who continue to engage in civil and respectful discourse.

“We celebrate and support all of our students, including our student-athletes, as they compete for our community this holiday weekend.

“While we are disappointed in Boise State’s decision, our women’s volleyball team is preparing for Saturday’s match and looking forward to competing for a championship,” the spokesperson added.

Newsweek has also reached out to Fleming for comment via social media.

Boise State University joins others who have declined to play San Jose State this season, including the University of Wyoming and Southern Utah University.

Hailing from Aldie, Virginia, Fleming is currently playing a third season at San José State. Before that, Fleming played 10 games for Coastal Carolina.

The PR major played in 17 matches and 61 sets in the 2023 season, although Fleming missed some matches due to injury.

A lawsuit filed by several players, including reportedly one of Fleming’s teammates, sought to bar the player from competing, alleging that inclusion violates Title IX protections and elements of the U.S. Constitution, according to WJAR TV- station.

A federal judge ruled that Fleming could compete and represent the team.

Fleming was named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honoree alongside fellow San Jose player Brooke Slusser, the team announced Tuesday.

Although reported as transgender by several media outlets, Fleming has not yet directly discussed any gender-based assumptions with the media, according to media reports. The Daily Mail.

Fleming was defended by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, who told an ESPN that discussions about gender identity can be “extremely invasive and dehumanizing.”

“And it’s in a way, I think, that very few people ever experience. When my own personal identity and personality is turned into a culture war talking point, my entire humanity is completely taken away. It can be very difficult to stay trying to continue that,” Thomas added.

About 59 percent of Americans oppose allowing transgender athletes to play on sports teams that match their gender identity, compared to 19 percent who support it, according to a January 2024 YouGov poll.

What is Title IX?

Title IX is a landmark U.S. federal civil rights law enacted as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. According to the Department of Education, it prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

It states that “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

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