Former Volleyball Player Reveals Shocking Discovery About Transgender Teammate
Brooke Slusser, a former San Jose State University volleyball player, is now speaking publicly about a deeply personal situation that began as a simple living arrangement and escalated into a complex legal and ethical controversy. Slusser claims she spent almost two years sharing an apartment with teammate Blaire Fleming without knowing that Fleming is transgender, a revelation that she says profoundly impacted her mental and physical health.
The Shared Living Situation in Santa Clara
According to Slusser, she and Fleming moved into a four-bedroom apartment in Santa Clara, California in 2023 while both were playing for the San Jose State Spartans volleyball team. In a recent interview with Fox News, Slusser described their close living arrangement, explaining that they often spent time together in ways typical of college teammates sharing space.
"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," Slusser told Fox News, emphasizing her shock upon discovering Fleming's transgender identity through a media report in spring 2024.
She elaborated on their daily interactions: "Watching movies snuggled up in bed, like all the normal things you'd think girls do in an apartment... my bathroom is across the hall from my bedroom and I'm going back and forth and everyone's out doing their thing."
Health Consequences and Legal Action
Slusser asserts that the stress from this discovery triggered significant health issues, including an eating disorder and anxiety that affected her menstrual cycle for nine months. "It wasn't until all the craziness started that my healthy lifestyle turned very unhealthy into not eating the amount I should," she explained.
The former athlete expressed particular concern about her reproductive future: "I want to have the dream future that I envision for myself of having kids in the future. I want as many as possible, and I think if that weren't able to happen, that would break my heart."
In response to these experiences, Slusser has filed a lawsuit against both the NCAA and the Mountain West Conference, alleging that the organizations failed to ensure proper transparency and athlete safety regarding transgender participation policies.
Fleming's Strong Rebuttal and Wider Controversy
Blaire Fleming has vehemently denied Slusser's allegations. In a December interview with Fox News, Fleming stated bluntly: "I really don't care or feel bad for her." Regarding Slusser's eating disorder claims, Fleming countered: "She literally would weigh herself two to three times a day and keep track of it on her whiteboard in her room. And she didn't drop her classes, she failed out."
The controversy has expanded beyond the two athletes to involve San Jose State volleyball coach Todd Kress, whom Slusser blames for encouraging the shared living arrangement without disclosing Fleming's background. The situation grew more contentious during the 2024 season when several opposing teams refused to play San Jose State, resulting in forfeits and protests.
Title IX Complaint and Program Allegations
Adding another layer to the dispute, former San Jose State assistant coach Melissa Batie Smoose filed a Title IX complaint in October 2024 alleging retaliation after she raised concerns about Fleming and the team environment. In her complaint, Batie Smoose accused Fleming of collaborating with an opposing player to target Slusser during an October 3 match and claimed Fleming received preferential treatment from the program.
"Not showing up to practice with no excuses, sitting in the stands eating while practice was going on," Batie Smoose stated in her complaint. Fleming denied these allegations, explaining: "The only times I showed up to practice with 'no excuse' and sat in the stands was when I was injured and couldn't play."
Broader Implications for College Sports
This case has ignited a wider national conversation about transparency, athlete safety, and policies governing transgender participation in collegiate athletics. The legal proceedings against the NCAA and Mountain West Conference could potentially establish important precedents regarding institutional responsibilities in similar situations.
As both parties await further developments in the lawsuit, the controversy continues to raise difficult questions about privacy, disclosure, and the evolving landscape of gender identity in competitive sports. Neither Fleming nor San Jose State University officials have provided additional comments regarding Slusser's latest interview revelations.
