San Jose State University has acknowledged its recent exodus of volleyball players, including a transgender player on its team who entered the transfer portal after a controversial season.
The university issued a statement to Fox News Digital expressing “respect” for the recent wave of players who have chosen to transfer. “Student-athletes have the ability to make decisions about their collegiate athletic careers, and we fully respect that,” the statement read.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that seven of the team's players have entered the transfer portal.
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In an article detailing the San Jose State University Spartans' transgender athlete scandal, the New York Times referred to biological female athletes on the team as “non-transgender women.” (AP Photo/David Zarbowski)
The seven transferring players will leave the team after a season that included eight forfeited games, regular police protection, domestic surveillance and internal turmoil between players and coaches. Amid the controversy, one player even received threats of physical harm.
Head coach Todd Kress said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that the 2024 season was one of the “most difficult” seasons of his life after his team lost to Colorado State in the conference finals. even spoke.
“This has been one of the most difficult seasons I've ever experienced, and I know this is true for many of our players and the staff who have supported us all along.” “It's about maintaining our focus and ensuring our overall performance. The safety and well-being of our players was my top priority despite all the outside noise,” said Kress.
Transgender athlete Blair Fleming will no longer be eligible to play after her fourth college season in 2024. The team's season ended in the Mountain West Conference championship game after advancing to the title game due to Boise State's withdrawal in the semifinal round. . Boise State forfeited two regular-season games against San Jose State amid the controversy over Fleming, and three of this year's seven conference wins came in forfeits.
The season ended with a loss to Colorado State in the conference finals, and the controversy never reached the NCAA Tournament. This loss effectively ended Fleming's college career.
In September, co-captain Brooke Slusser joined the lawsuit against the NCAA, alleging that the program failed to inform her and other players on the team about Fleming's birth gender. Slusser claimed he was made to share changing and sleeping spaces with Fleming, not knowing that Fleming was biologically male.
Slusser, along with several other Mountain West players, filed a separate lawsuit against the conference and San Jose State in November over Fleming's attendance. The lawsuit included testimony from former San Jose State volleyball players Alyssa Sugai and Elle Patterson alleging that they were given scholarships in Fleming's favor.
The lawsuit also alleges that San Jose State players spoke out about Fleming's alleged plot to spike Slusser in the face with a volleyball during an Oct. 3 game against Colorado State. Slasher was not spiked in the face in that fight. Mountain West's investigation ended without finding sufficient evidence of an alleged conspiracy.
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Assistant coach Melissa Batey-Smooth was suspended from the program in early November after filing a Title IX complaint against the university for favoring Fleming over other players, specifically Thrasser. Batty Smooth's complaint also included Fleming's alleged plot to spike Slusser in the face.
Slusser previously told Fox News Digital that Batty-Smooth's firing had a severe impact on team morale.
“After we found out she was released, a lot of the team was broken down and distraught, and even one of my teammates was like, 'I don't feel safe anymore,' because there's no one.” I feel like I can go and talk about my concerns and my actual feelings and actually speak freely in public,” Slusser said.
Slusser added that she and the other players have lost faith in their coaches, including head coach Cress.
“You can't really voice how you feel without them trying to hide it or acting like it's okay. With Melissa, it's easy to put your feelings into words. “She's able to comfort you, acknowledge your feelings, or at least tell you how you feel,” Slusser said. “Compared to other coaches, you feel heard.” .
Cress also blamed the forfeiting teams for creating a backlash against his team, as each forfeit attracted more controversy and media attention.
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San Jose State Spartans players watch before a game against the Air Force Falcons on Falcon Court in the East Gym on October 19, 2024 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Andrew Webbers/Getty Images)
“Sadly, other teams who have played with the same team for years without incident have chosen not to play with us this season. To be clear, we are celebrating every win with a forfeited game. Instead, prepare for the consequences. We were prepared. Each forfeiture announcement sparked appalling hatred that individuals chose to send directly to our student-athletes, coaching staff, and many others associated with our program. It's a full message.”
But those issues didn't prevent most of the players from at least enjoying their final road trip as San Jose State Spartans.
Slusser previously told Fox News Digital that when the team traveled to Las Vegas for the Mountain West Tournament, they went to see a magic show together and even had a Thanksgiving meal together at the team hotel, with takeout from a local diner. Many of the members said they ate there. family.
However, keeping the seven players who entered the transfer portal in the program will be difficult as the team will face a major roster shakeup in 2025 as it looks to recover on the court and restore its reputation. It wasn't enough.
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