Fifth women’s volleyball team refuses to play against trans player
The University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team has become the fifth to forfeit a match against San Jose State University (SJSU), Outkick reported Monday.
The right-side hitter for SJSU’s women’s volleyball team is Blaire Fleming, a man who reportedly claims to be transgender. His teammate, Brooke Slusser, says women on opposing teams are unable to “fully protect themselves” from Fleming’s spikes, which she estimates travel faster than 80 mph.
Fleming’s presence on the women’s team has stirred controversy, with some teams refusing to play against SJSU. The University of Nevada was, initially, not one of them, confirming earlier this month that its team would play against SJSU as scheduled on October 26th.
Evidently, the university had not checked with the players.
On Monday, the team put out a statement forfeiting the match.
"We, the University of Nevada Reno women’s volleyball team, forfeit against San Jose State University and stand united in solidarity with the volleyball teams of Southern Utah University, Boise State University, the University of Wyoming, and Utah State University," the team wrote.
"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."
Earlier this month, Utah State University announced it was forfeiting its match against SJSU, after Boise State, the University of Wyoming, and Southern Utah University did the same.
‘A movement is in motion’
"When college athletes have to vote on whether to play the sport they received scholarships for, it’s a clear sign that the adults responsible for protecting them have failed," athlete and political activist Riley Gaines said about the University of Nevada’s decision. "I applaud these athletes for setting boundaries and prioritizing their safety over victory. They've shown far more courage and leadership than the president of the university and the President of this country.”
Gaines and Slusser are suing the NCAA for its policy of allowing men on women’s teams.
“A movement is in motion,” Gaines said after Utah State University pulled out of its match against SJSU. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that the NCAA has a decision to make. So far, the NCAA has prioritized inclusion over safety & fairness. Will the @NCAA keep letting girls take matters into their own hands or will they step up & protect their athletes?”
The trend signals a possible change in women’s positive attitudes toward men in women’s sports, compared to attitudes from two years ago.
Women support men in women’s sports, surveys show
According to a 2022 Pew Research poll, 62% of women felt “there is a great deal or a fair amount of discrimination against transgender people.” Only 52% of men agreed. Women have also been more likely than men to say it is “extremely or very important” to use a person’s “new” name or “preferred pronouns.”
Further surveys conducted in Western countries such as Australia, England, and Canada, also found that the majority of women athletes supported men competing in women’s sports and did not believe males hold an “unfair advantage” against females. Most men strongly disagree.
