In a move that has sparked widespread outrage and concern, it has been revealed that a male has quietly joined the women’s volleyball team at San Jose State University. This development has reignited the national conversation about fairness in women’s sports, with many athletes, parents, and advocacy groups standing against the decision to allow male athletes to compete against females in Division I NCAA sports. The male who is currently playing women’s Division I volleyball for San Jose State University in the reputable Mountain West Conference, is Brayden (Blaire) Fleming.
The Facts
Reports from OutKick and Reduxx detail how the player, a male, is on the women’s volleyball team for the 2024 season at San Jose State. What has been particularly controversial is the lack of public transparency about this decision. Parents, female athletes, and many in the volleyball community have raised concerns that the inclusion of a male player creates an unfair competitive advantage.
Volleyball is a sport where physicality—height, strength, and power—plays a crucial role. Male athletes, due to biological differences, tend to possess significantly more muscle mass and bone density, translating into greater jumping ability and hitting power, advantages that can’t be nullified by hormone therapy.. For example, even after attempting to “transition”, males retain 10-12% more muscle mass than females on average. According to a study published in The Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, male volleyball players average 50% more power in their spike compared to female players. These biological advantages raise the question: how can competition be fair when male athletes are allowed to compete against women?
Before transferring to San Jose State University, Fleming was part of the women’s volleyball team at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina. His move to California came just before South Carolina passed the Save Women’s Sports Act, a law that would have barred him from competing on women’s teams. The timing of this transfer suggests that the new legislation may have played a role in his decision to leave the state.
Previously, Fleming attended John Champe High School in Virginia, where he played on the girls’ varsity volleyball team. During his time there, he set impressive records, including the most kills in a single match and a season record of 266 kills.
Athlete Reactions: The Fight for Fairness
Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, who has been a vocal advocate for maintaining sex-based categories in sports, weighed in on the issue via X, formerly known as Twitter. She stated that allowing males to compete in women’s sports is a “direct attack on the fairness of women’s sports.” Gaines, who competed against Will (Lia) Thomas, another male in women’s swimming, continues to raise awareness about the physical disadvantages that female athletes face when competing against male counterparts.
Similarly, advocacy groups like the Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICONS) have spoken out against the inclusion of male athletes in women’s teams, pointing out that such decisions not only undermine the integrity of female sports but also pose potential safety risks. Volleyball, with its high-speed and close-contact nature, can become dangerous when physical disparities are so pronounced.
The male athlete from SJSU👇🏼
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) September 14, 2024
There is no such thing as women's sports if men are included. https://t.co/Vs3ChPuqy8 pic.twitter.com/iJIFNHIeFg
The Silence from San Jose State
One of the most troubling aspects of this situation is the secrecy surrounding the player’s inclusion on the team. Many reports indicate that the decision was made quietly, without notifying the public or key stakeholders such as parents and fellow athletes. This lack of transparency has led to a backlash from athletes, parents, and advocacy groups who believe that decisions impacting fairness and safety in women’s sports should be made openly and with public input.
A tweet by concerned parent Beth Bourne summed up the frustrations felt by many: “Our daughters are losing out on scholarships, opportunities, and a fair playing field. Why aren’t more people talking about this?”
Reduxx reported that a parent of a volleyball player playing against Brayden, stated “He jumped higher and hit harder than any woman on the court. There was no other female athlete on the court that day that could compare with Blaire’s athleticism. He also had very narrow hips. I took notice of how he was dressed with a longer shirt in the front as well.”
The Legal Landscape
In California, where San Jose State is located, state law supports the right of individuals to compete in sports based on their gender identity, not their biological sex. While this aligns with broader civil rights protections, critics argue that such policies are eroding the very essence of women’s sports.
The Path Forward: Restoring Fairness in Women’s Sports
The case of the San Jose State volleyball player isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a growing trend where males are being allowed to compete in women’s sports across the country. This trend has prompted renewed calls for policy changes that protect the integrity of women’s sports while respecting the rights of all individuals.
Women’s sports were created to give women an equal playing field, and without immediate action, that fairness is at risk of being permanently erased. The question remains: how much longer will this trend continue before policies are reevaluated to protect both fairness and safety for female athletes?
