A young woman, heart pounding as she steps onto the volleyball court, her senior season a chance to shine. She’s worked tirelessly, dreaming of every serve and set, only to discover her university hid truths about her teammate—truths that threatened her safety and upended her dreams. This isn’t a hypothetical. It’s the story of Brooke Slusser, a San Jose State University volleyball star whose courage in demanding fairness deserves our attention.
Slusser alleges that her transgender teammate, Blaire Fleming, conspired with a Colorado State player to spike a volleyball in her face during an October 2024 match. The Mountain West Conference investigated, hiring the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher to review the claim. Their conclusion? No evidence, no disciplinary action. Case closed. But here’s the catch: the same firm was defending the conference against Slusser’s lawsuit challenging Fleming’s eligibility and alleging misconduct.
You don’t need a referee to call that a foul. It’s a betrayal of trust, plain and simple. Slusser’s fight isn’t just about one incident. It’s about the heart of women’s sports: a level playing field where female athletes can compete safely and fairly. She and 10 other players sued SJSU and the Mountain West, claiming the school hid Fleming’s biological sex, paired them as roommates without consent, and favored Fleming’s scholarship over other women. They argue Fleming’s 80-mph spikes—uncommon in women’s volleyball—posed real risks. Slusser’s father, Paul, voiced the family’s frustration: “We hoped the investigation would shed light, but it left us in the dark.”
When institutions dodge hard truths, they erode the trust of students, parents, and taxpayers who expect better. The investigation’s flaws run deeper. Emails show WFG attorney Tim Heaphy coordinated with SJSU and California State University officials, raising questions about impartiality. When Fox News pressed SJSU athletic director Jeff Konya on the matter, he abruptly ended the interview, saying, “I’m done.” That’s not accountability—it’s a dodge. Slusser, meanwhile, faced harassment and threats, forcing her to leave campus for safety.
Her former coach, Melissa Batie-Smoose, who filed a Title IX complaint, saw her contract end and her property vandalized—retaliation, she believes, for speaking out. Seven teammates entered the transfer portal, a sign of a team fractured by institutional neglect. Slusser’s senior season? “Ruined,” she says. This isn’t just a local spat. It’s a national flashpoint, one that caught President Trump’s attention during the 2024 campaign when he criticized transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports, noting Fleming’s powerful spikes.
DIVE DEEPER: San Jose State Fires Asst. Coach Over Objection to Man on Women's Volleyball Team
Conservatives, and a few well-known Democrats, see this as a matter of principle: women’s sports exist to ensure equal opportunities, not to prioritize one athlete’s inclusion over others’ safety. Taxpayers fund universities like SJSU to uphold fairness, not to shield biased investigations that put young women at risk. Slusser’s resolve inspires. She’s part of two lawsuits—one against the NCAA, led by Riley Gaines, and another against SJSU—aimed at protecting female athletes.
Her words carry weight: “The goal is to never have to let another female athlete go through what I did.”
The battle for fairness isn’t over. Slusser’s lawsuits could reshape how universities handle transgender inclusion, ensuring transparency and safety. But we don’t need to wait for court rulings to act. Parents, fans, and taxpayers can demand policies that put women first—policies that respect the physical realities of sport and the dreams of athletes like Slusser.
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