Riley Gaines claims that female athletes were 'emotionally blackmailed' over the SJSU trans volleyball scandal.

Testimonies at a Boise, Idaho state legislative hearing on Thursday recounted the "terror" that some college women's volleyball players faced during the 2024 season amid a national controversy over a trans athlete.

During a hearing on the Fairness in Women's Sports Act, proposed by Idaho state representative Barbara Erhardt, testimonies were given.

The Mountain West Conference and San Jose State University are facing a lawsuit from multiple women's volleyball players who claim that the school withheld the fact that player Blaire Fleiming is a biological male from players. The lawsuit also alleges that Fleiming was given a roster spot and scholarship over female players who claim to have been emotionally and financially impacted by the experience.

Despite a lawsuit, Fleming led the Spartans to the Mountain West Championship game. However, eight of San Jose State's matches were forfeited by opponents due to the controversy, including a conference tournament semifinal match against Boise State.

In 2024, SJSU won three matches against Boise State, and the decision was commended by Erhardt and other speakers at the hearing.

On Thursday, one parent of a player in the conference shared her account of the situation and criticized all the schools that did not forfeit to SJSU.

April Cheney, an Idaho mom, shared her firsthand experience of a daughter playing in the Mountain West conference.

"You, Charlie Baker, Gloria Nevarez, and all Mountain West college presidents and athletic directors who did not boycott, are to blame for the season that took away a year of eligibility, forced forfeits to be recorded as losses, and a conference championship that was a complete shame. NCAA and Mountain West conference, I hold you responsible for these actions."

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and conservative influencer, shared her account of the experiences of women's athletes affected by trans inclusion, based on conversations with them. She is also leading a lawsuit against the NCAA over the issue.

Gaines stated that the players were emotionally coerced into thinking they were responsible for the issue, with only Boise State providing administrative backing to those who wanted to withdraw.

"The majority of them did not want this to happen, and no one asked for it. The girls were terrified of standing tall and speaking up for themselves, fearing the consequences of saying 'Men and women are different.'"

The co-founder of the legal advocacy group the Independent Council on Women's Sports, Marshi Smith, testified that female athletes who joined the lawsuit felt threatened by potential retaliation from their university if they spoke out against trans inclusion.

According to Smith, the players frequently inquired, "What consequences will we face for speaking out?"

Smith responded to Planet Chronicle Digital with a detailed explanation of the players' questions.

Smith stated that administrators at San Jose State took advantage of athletes' fear of losing scholarships or being removed from their teams by telling them to remain silent, as it was Blaire Fleming's story to share, not their own.

In response to the statements made at Thursday's hearing, San Jose State has issued a statement to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Under NCAA and Mountain West Conference rules, all San Jose State University student-athletes are eligible to participate in their sports.

Smith claims that UNR volleyball players were threatened with legal action if they refused to compete against San Jose State in an October match that never occurred.

Smith stated that UNR administrators informed athletes of the potential legal consequences if they declined to compete against SJSU's team, which featured a male starter.

Smith's allegations were not responded to by Nevada upon request for comment. The university previously stated that the athletes were allowed to not play the game without discipline and that they were continuing with the match to comply with state law that prohibits discrimination against transgenders.

Despite the players' request to forfeit to SJSU weeks before the match, the university refused and issued a statement stating its intention to play. However, when the players publicly voiced their concerns, it sparked weeks of controversy. Ultimately, Nevada canceled the match on Oct. 25, one day before it was scheduled, due to a lack of players willing to participate.

Despite the forfeits by Nevada, Boise State, Utah State, Southern Utah, and Wyoming this season, many other players were still required to compete against Fleming without prior knowledge of the player's birth sex.

Fleming's first opponent of the season, Louisiana Tech, did not know about the player's biological gender when they took the court.

Amber McCray, the head volleyball coach at Louisiana Tech, confirmed to Planet Chronicle Digital that her team was unaware of Fleming's natural birth sex until the day after the match, when they learned about it through rumors from parents.

Ryan Ivey, the athletic director at LA Tech, stated in emails obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital that if they had known Fleming's true sex at birth, the team would have sought a different outcome.

Fleming's own teammates, including former SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser, who is leading the lawsuit against the Mountain West, and has also signed on to Gaines' lawsuit against the NCAA, citing her experience with Fleming.

Slusser described the experience as "traumatic" to Planet Chronicle Digital.

Slusser stated that this season has been so traumatizing that he doesn't have a proudest moment.

Slusser's lawsuit against SJSU and the Mountain West includes players Alyssa Sugai, Elle Patterson, Sia Liilii, Nicanora Clarke, Kaylie Ray, Macey Boggs, Sierra Grizzle, Jordan Sandy, Katelyn Van Kirk, Kiersten Van Kirk, and former SJSU assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose.

Nearly every remaining eligible volleyball player at SJSU is considering leaving the program after a recent mass exodus of players entered the transfer portal.

Athletic students possess the authority to choose their college athletic paths, and we highly value their decisions.

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