Transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming is speaking out after former San Jose State teammate Brooke Slusser filed a lawsuit alleging that discovering Fleming was transgender caused her significant emotional distress and contributed to the development of an eating disorder.
Slusser has sued the NCAA, the Mountain West Conference, and several university officials. She alleges that being assigned to room with Fleming during travel and sharing team facilities without being informed of Fleming’s gender identity caused panic and anxiety. She says that this distress escalated into anorexia and the loss of her menstrual cycle for nine months. Slusser has stated publicly that the situation forced her to leave school and abandon her athletic career.
Fleming strongly disputes the accusation. Speaking to international and U.S. outlets, she said she does not feel responsible for Slusser’s health struggles. Fleming stated that Slusser was already weighing herself multiple times a day and had longstanding concerns about her body before learning Fleming was transgender. Fleming said she feels sympathy for anyone managing an eating disorder but does not believe she caused or contributed to it.
The lawsuit does not list Fleming as a defendant. Instead, it targets athletic institutions for what Slusser describes as a failure to disclose Fleming’s gender identity. Slusser argues that this lack of disclosure created the conditions that harmed her mental health.
The controversy reflects a period of intense scrutiny surrounding San Jose State’s 2024 volleyball season. After Fleming began competing under NCAA policy, several opposing teams forfeited games, and public demonstrations followed the team throughout the season. Fleming has previously described that year as one of the hardest of her life. She said she felt isolated from teammates, targeted by national media, and overwhelmed by threats directed at her on social media.
Fleming competed in accordance with NCAA rules that govern transgender participation in women’s sports. These policies require documented hormone therapy and compliance with testosterone suppression levels. Supporters of transgender athletes have emphasized that Fleming followed every requirement and that the backlash she faced was rooted in broader political tensions rather than the specifics of her eligibility.
Slusser maintains that her health decline aligned with her discovery of Fleming’s gender identity and the surrounding controversy during the season. Her attorneys argue that the university and governing bodies should have disclosed this information and provided additional support for players who felt uncomfortable or confused.
Fleming has continued to defend herself against the latest claims. She says she has carried more than enough emotional weight from the 2024 season and does not believe she should be held responsible for another athlete’s medical condition. While her statements have been firm, she has also acknowledged the toll that public attention has taken on her life and mental well-being.
As legal proceedings continue, the case highlights ongoing national debates about transgender inclusion in collegiate sports and the responsibilities institutions have toward both transgender athletes and their teammates. The lawsuit is expected to raise broader questions about privacy, communication, and the treatment of transgender players navigating already challenging environments.
