Sunday marked a year since Blair Fleming and Brooke Slusser played their final volleyball game for San Jose State. Despite their friendship, things turned complicated when Slusser filed a lawsuit, stating she wasn’t made aware that Fleming identified as a transgender woman. In fact, they had already shared hotel and locker room spaces throughout the previous season without Slusser’s knowledge.
In the aftermath, Slusser began experiencing significant stress which led to an eating disorder, resulting in severe anorexia. This condition became so severe that she missed nine consecutive menstrual cycles.
“I wasn’t eating due to the stress and anxiety,” Slusser shared. She recounted how her weight dropped from about 160 to 128 pounds. For someone of her stature, that wasn’t healthy, and the warnings from friends and family about her appearance were hard to hear. One friend even mentioned crying to her mother out of concern after seeing Slusser’s condition during a brief visit home.
Slusser admitted to having days where she consumed as little as 400 calories, all while participating in practices and media interviews about her campaign to “save women’s sports.” “It was a really tough time,” she reflected. Juggling interviews with challenging conversations with coaches made each day overwhelming.
Eventually, her parents noticed the toll this experience was taking, and they insisted on her returning to Texas after the season wrapped up. “When she came home for Christmas, we knew she couldn’t go back,” her father, Paul, stated.
Concern over media portrayal became increasingly stressful for Slusser. Her mother, Kim, expressed her devastation upon seeing Slusser’s condition during that holiday visit, noting it had a significant impact on her mental state. Slusser herself began having nightmares about practices and could barely sleep, even resorting to melatonin for help.
As winter break ended, and as her final semester began, Slusser attempted online classes but soon withdrew. Losing her scholarship made things more difficult, leading her family to bear the financial burden of tuition and housing.
Since she hasn’t completed her degree, the family now faces additional expenses as Slusser prepares to finish her education elsewhere. She had initially envisioned finishing her studies and starting a career in nutrition, yet now her focus has shifted to healing.
Interestingly, Slusser’s recovery took a turn last fall when attending a church service led her to a spiritual decision. “I broke down in tears during the service and chose to give my life to Christ,” she recounted. Immersing herself in church and eventually getting baptized in June played a role in her healing process.
Joining a new environment in North Carolina as a youth volleyball coach, Slusser also formed a supportive relationship with a friend from high school, which aided her recovery. By Thanksgiving, her parents acknowledged her progress, both physically and mentally.
Despite everything, Slusser remains committed to advocating for “women’s sports.” She is involved in two lawsuits, including one against the NCAA, drawing from her experiences at SJSU. Meanwhile, the university is under investigation by the Department of Education regarding its handling of the situation.
As for Fleming, he has kept a low profile online since the controversy began. In a recent interview, he revealed feelings of despair and acknowledged the harsh treatment he received from the media. Although he’s not a named defendant in any of Slusser’s lawsuits, his situation remains a complex aspect of this ongoing story.
