Share and Follow
Brooke Slusser, a former captain of San Jose State University’s women’s volleyball team, recently found herself in the crosshairs of online vitriol after filing a lawsuit involving her transgender teammate, Blaire Fleming. The backlash primarily came from left-wing commenters across social media platforms.
In a legal move that has garnered significant attention, Slusser, alongside players from various teams, initiated proceedings against the California State University Board and the Mountain West Conference. This lawsuit cites alleged breaches of the First and 14th Amendments, alongside Title IX, which is designed to prevent sex-based discrimination. The catalyst for these legal actions was the controversy that erupted in 2024 surrounding Fleming’s participation in the sport.
Fleming, who was assigned male at birth, became a focal point of debate when several teams refused to compete against San Jose State University due to concerns about Fleming’s biological sex. This led to SJSU benefiting from seven forfeited matches, ultimately helping the team secure a spot in the playoffs with a 12-6 record.
Joining Slusser in the lawsuit are University of Wyoming players Macey Boggs, Sierra Grizzle, and Jordan Sandy. Their legal action also targets SJSU’s head coach and several other individuals, highlighting the widespread discontent among collegiate athletes.
Adding a personal dimension to the controversy, Slusser, who is 23, revealed that she unknowingly shared living accommodations with Fleming, unaware of their biological sex. Since taking her stand in the courtroom, she has been subjected to harsh criticism and offensive remarks online, reflecting the contentious nature of the issue at hand.
In an interview with Fox News, she said about the abuse: ‘I would just say people that don’t know my life or my trauma don’t have room to say how good or bad my time at SJSU was. I hope they never have to understand going through something as awful as that.’
Brooke Slusser has opened up on the vile abuse she has received from left-wing trolls online
The women’s volleyball player filed a lawsuit over trans teammate Blaire Fleming (pictured)
The online hate began after Slusser alleged that she had roomed with Fleming without knowing their true sex.
‘You find out you’re just chilling in a bed with a man that you have no idea about… I [was] unknowingly sharing a bed at that time with a man,’ she added.
Slusser has also accused SJSU volleyball coach Todd Kress of encouraging her to live in the apartment with Fleming when another group of players were looking for a final tenant.
In response to her claims, one user posted on X about Slusser: ‘Literally nothing bad happened to her. The trans woman was her friend and is now being vilified for doing nothing.’
Another posted: ‘literally nothing happened to her, she had a positive experience > didn’t even know one of her three flatmates was trans > blames the counselor who suggested living there as one of the options for a good reason – The grifts are just getting worse and worse’.
Former ‘Glee’ actor Kevin McHale, meanwhile, appeared to mock Slusser’s appearance, saying: ‘No upper lip to transphobe right wing grifter pipeline’.
On the other side, several conservative commentators have leapt to her defense, including women’s sports activist Riley Gaines.
‘A man lied about his sex. A college girl was stripped of her ability to consent. When she learned his sex, she said no,’ Gaines wrote on X.
Slusser said she shared a bed with Fleming while unaware her teammate was a biological male
Fleming was at the center of fierce controversy at San Jose State during the 2024 season
She then added about one of the users who suggested ‘nothing bad happened’ to Slusser: ‘People like evan loves worf think the man in this story is the victim (all while claiming to be fierce defenders of women’s rights, mind you).
‘He isn’t the victim. The women whose rights were violated are.’
Ex-ESPN host Sage Steele also weighed in on the controversy by posting: ‘Love ya, @BrookeSlusser… stay strong! Let’s help her hold @SJSU @SanJoseStateVB accountable!!’
Slusser and the women’s volleyball players who took legal action over Fleming were dealt a major blow last week when a judge dismissed all but one of the claims in their lawsuit.
Judge S. Kato Crews threw out the suit against the Mountain West as ‘plaintiffs do not allege that there is currently a transgender athlete playing volleyball’ in the Conference, he wrote in a 38-page opinion.
The claims the women made against the Conference also relied on ‘Section 1983’, which curbs state actors from violating people’s rights. Yet the Mountain West is not a state entity, Crews ruled. He also concluded that it is not subject to Title IX as it doesn’t receive money directly from the federal government.
He added that the women can challenge their own schools in court under Title IX if they feel the way they applied transgender participation policy violated their rights.