San Jose State University transgender athlete Blair Fleming will face off against Colorado State University star Malaya Jones in Saturday's final of the Mountain West Volleyball Tournament.
Fleming has been a controversial figure, with two lawsuits challenging his inclusion on the team as a transgender athlete. But Jones and her teammates have sparked controversy of their own.
Jones and teammates Kennedy Stanford and Naima Weathers knelt during the national anthem for the second night in a row ahead of Saturday's game.
The three players also knelt during the national anthem ahead of Friday night's semifinal game.
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After Friday's game, Colorado State head coach Emily Cohan told reporters that her players have been kneeling before games for five seasons now.
“They've been on the knee since first grade when the Black Lives Matter movement was happening, and this program develops critical thinkers who can decide what's important to them,” Cohan said. “And for these three guys, they're black players who have been important to them for the last five years. And they stood their ground and said this is what they believe in and I We all supported them.”
There was some question as to whether the Spartans would even play Saturday's game after their semifinal opponent, Boise State, withdrew from their playoff game amid controversy. But Cohan insisted the team play Fleming on the court.
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“This was a far cry from the regular season. Tomorrow we have an opportunity to play for another championship, but at the same time we have the courage to be a team that says, 'Okay, we're going to go there, we are.' We're going to show courage in the way we play and we're going to stop this. ”
“We're not going to hand these difficult conversations over to the NCAA committee or other teams and have them in tears in a hotel.”
Colorado State was the best team in the conference this season, with San Jose State finishing in second place. During the first regular season game on Oct. 3, Spartans head coach Todd Kress thanked Cohan and her team for just showing up.
At the time, San Jose State had just had three games removed from its schedule due to forfeitures due to the Fleming controversy.
San Jose State University Spartans head coach Todd Kress speaks to reporters after losing the NCAA Mountain West women's volleyball game against the Colorado State University Rams on October 3, 2024 in Fort Collins, Colorado. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
“I went up to Emily tonight and thought, 'Maybe I should just say thank you for playing with us.'” Of course, I meant it because I missed the chance to play. We're not the only ones who are missing the opportunity to play, it's people who have chosen not to play with us, and it's very disappointing when that happens. is. To the young women who have earned the right to step on the court and play,” Cress said in a postgame press conference on Oct. 3.
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Fleming's San Jose State teammate, Brooke Slusser, is involved in two separate lawsuits citing her experience with Fleming as a teammate. Slusser claims he was made to share living and dressing areas with Fleming, even though he was never informed that Fleming was biologically male.
Mr. Slusser's latest lawsuit against the Mountain West alleges that another San Jose State teammate was present during the meeting between Mr. Fleming and Mr. Jones to discuss plans to pitch the Oct. 3 game in favor of the Rams, while Mr. Slusser He claims that there was also a plan to have him participate in spikes. Face by Jones. Similar claims were included in a Title IX complaint filed by former Spartans assistant coach Melissa Batty Smooth.
Mountain West concluded its investigation into the allegations in the Title IX complaint without finding sufficient evidence to support its claims. Slusser's attorney issued a statement to Fox News Digital questioning the legitimacy of the investigation.
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