Redshirt junior Blaire Fleming has been quite dominant on the San Jose State women’s volleyball team.
Fleming’s towering 6-foot-1 presence on the volleyball court has had multiple programs forfeit games against the team due to her being transgender.
Many opposed to Fleming being on the court just received bad news after a new court ruling allows the transgender athlete to compete for San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team in the upcoming Mountain West Conference tournament this week, according to The New York Times.
Judge S. Kato Crews, President Biden’s appointee to the U.S. District Court in Colorado, made the decision on Blaire Fleming despite the protests of many female athletes in the league.
Federal Judge Kato Crews denied the motion for injunctive relief in college volleyball players’ lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference.
Crews wrote the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay “was not reasonable” and “would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament.”
BREAKING: Biden-appointed federal judge denies motion for injunctive relief in Mountain West lawsuit.
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) November 25, 2024
Forfeits remain as losses, transgender Blaire Fleming is eligible to play in the conference tournament and SJSU remains the #2 seed with a first-round bye. pic.twitter.com/9OOOyJ09Tg
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The players, who represented multiple schools in the Mountain West Conference, wanted their forfeited games rescinded and the standings adjusted while getting Blaire Fleming banned from the tournament, citing First Amendment and Title IX violations.
The many forfeits because of Blaire Fleming helped San Jose reach the No.2 seed in the conference tournament, which guaranteed them a semifinal spot.
The Mountain West Conference finals begin on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
San Jose State Releases Statement After Ruling On Blaire Fleming
Blaire Fleming, a transgender volleyball player who represents the San Jose State University, got great news when a federal judge allowed her to compete in the Mountain West Conference tournament.
Judge S Kato Crews delivered the judgment after several opposing players, as well as Fleming’s teammates, filed a lawsuit against the team.
Everybody who complained stated that conference officials violated their Title IX rights, which ensures that men and women are treated fairly in educational settings, including collegiate sports.
Unfortunately for everybody involved, things did not go their way, and now they will have to face Blaire Fleming yet again in tournament play.
The San Jose State women’s volleyball team would release a statement:
“San José State University will continue to support its student-athletes and reject discrimination in all forms,” the university said in a statement to OutKick after the ruling. “All San José State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports under NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules.
“We are gratified that the Court rejected an eleventh-hour attempt to change those rules. Our team looks forward to competing in the Mountain West volleyball tournament this week.”
