San Jose State University and the California State University system face a March 21, 2025, deadline from U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon to resolve a Title IX investigation into the school's women's volleyball program or risk loss of federal funding and Justice Department referral. The probe stems from complaints over biological male Blaire Fleming competing on the roster.
Former University of Wyoming outside hitter Macey Boggs described in a Fox News Digital interview how her team's 2024 decision to forfeit two scheduled matches against San Jose State divided the Cowgirls locker room, ending some friendships and contributing to a senior-year playoff miss.
The controversy arose after Fleming, a transgender woman who joined San Jose State in 2023, was named to the Spartans' roster for the 2024 Mountain West Conference season.[1] Fleming had previously competed for the College of San Mateo in 2022.
Wyoming, scheduled to host San Jose State on October 5, 2024, and play a return match on November 2, initially held an anonymous player vote favoring playing the matches, Boggs said. A group of players, including Boggs, opposed participation.
Athletic Director Tom Burman and university President Gregory Phan announced the forfeits on October 4, 2024, citing a divisive team situation.[2] Wyoming Athletics stated the decision was made internally, amid pressure from both sides, without state government intervention.
Utah State was the first of five Mountain West teams to forfeit to San Jose State that season.[3] Wyoming finished 17-13 overall and missed the conference tournament by two wins, a berth they would have secured with victories over San Jose State.[2]
In November 2024, Boggs and teammates Sierra Grizzle and Jordan Sandy joined Brooke Slusser's lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference, San Jose State and CSU, alleging Title IX violations. A federal judge in March 2025 dismissed claims against the conference but preserved Title IX claims against the university and system.
Boggs said the ordeal overshadowed her senior season, with debates centering on playoff implications and individual stats rather than ideology. Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon supported the forfeits, emphasizing fairness in women's sports.
Sources
- San Jose State University Athletics. "2024 Women's Volleyball Roster: Blaire Fleming". Accessed 2025. https://sjsuspartans.com/sports/womens-volleyball/roster/blaire-fleming/54702
- University of Wyoming Athletics. "Wyoming Announces Forfeit vs. San Jose State". October 4, 2024. https://gowyo.com/news/2024/10/4/volleyball-wyoming-announces-forfeit-vs-san-jose-state.aspx
- Mountain West Conference. "2024 Volleyball Standings". 2024. https://mountainwest.com/sports/wvball/standings
