SJSU trans athlete speaks out on ruined season after taking 'unfair' losses.

During a state senate hearing in 2024, Macey Boggs, a University of Wyoming women's volleyball player, spoke about her team's forfeiture of two matches against San Jose State due to a controversy surrounding transgender player Blaire Fleming.

One of the 11 former or current Mountain West volleyball players involved in a lawsuit against SJSU and the conference, Boggs, spoke in favor of a bill that would restrict athletic competition to an athlete's biological sex at birth in the state.

No amount of legislation can give Boggs another chance to compete in the volleyball postseason, as Wyoming's two forfeits to SJSU on Oct. 5 and Nov. 14 cost the team a spot in the Mountain West Tournament, ending her career.

I was denied the opportunity to compete in the Mountain West Tournament because my team refused to play against a male athlete on an opposing team, an injustice that ultimately kept us from competing in the tournament.

"We should compete against individuals with biology similar to our own, rather than against a male standard."

The lasting impression Boggs won't soon forget is the sacrifice made by her teammate to ensure their safety during a championship competition.

"This issue is more than just wins and losses. It's about respecting women and girls."

The bill, aimed at safeguarding female athletes from similar circumstances, was sponsored by Wyoming Republican state Sen. Wendy Schuler, a former college athlete, and was passed in a 4-1 vote by the state legislators.

A bill to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's and girls sports has already passed in the House of Representatives, with 25 states already having laws in place to prevent such participation.

Boggs hopes her experience can prevent it from happening anywhere else.

"Although I may not be able to achieve my career goals as my team did, there is still hope for the future generation of young girls," she stated. "It is fundamentally unjust, dangerous, and a violation of women's rights to require women to compete against biological males."

Boggs stated that sex is predetermined at birth and not based on emotions.

The lawsuit includes SJSU co-captain Brooke Slusser, Alyssa Sugai, Elle Patterson, Nicanora Clarke, Kaylie Ray, Sia Li'ili'i, Sierra Grizzle, Jordan Sandy, Katelyn Van Kirk, and Kiersten Van Kirk, as well as former SJSU assistant volleyball coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, who was suspended by San Jose State after filing a Title IX complaint alleging the university gave favorable treatment to the trans player.

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer and conservative influencer, shared her account of the experiences of women's athletes affected by transgender inclusion during a hearing in Idaho on January 9. Gaines, who leads a lawsuit against the NCAA on this issue, based her account on discussions with the players.

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

"The majority of them did not want this to happen. No one asked for this. This was not a desired situation for them," Gaines stated. "The girls were scared. They were scared to stand up for themselves. They were scared of the consequences of saying 'men and women are different'."

The co-founder of the Independent Council on Women's Sports, Marshi Smith, stated that the female athletes who joined the lawsuit were concerned about retaliation from their university if they spoke out against transgender 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.

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.

If officials had known Fleming's natural birth sex, the team would have sought a different outcome, according to LA Tech athletic director Ryan Ivey, as revealed in emails obtained by Planet Chronicle Digital.

Fleming, who allegedly had to share bedrooms and changing spaces with Slusser in the lawsuit, has told Planet Chronicle Digital that the experience has been "traumatic."

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

The transfer portal has led to a significant decrease in the number of volleyball players at SJSU, with most of the remaining eligible players considering leaving the program.

College athletic careers are a matter of personal choice for student-athletes, and we highly value their decision-making abilities.

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