A women’s college volleyball coach and 11 female athletes across five universities filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against the ​​Mountain West Conference, its commissioner, and three officials at San Jose State University (SJSU).
The 132-page lawsuit alleges Title IX and First Amendment violations resulting from the addition of San Jose Spartans member Blaire Fleming, a male who identifies as female. Fleming has been on the team since 2022.
The plaintiffs include San Jose State co-captain Brooke Slusser, now-suspended assistant coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, two former Spartans, and volleyball players from four other universities that compete in the Mountain West Conference.
“This lawsuit sends a clear message: universities will face consequences for placing female athletes in harmful and unlawful situations. We won’t ignore the differences between males and females, and we won’t be silenced. I’m grateful to take this fight to court.” Slusser said in a statement….