Transgender swimmer and former NCAA champion Lia Thomas is backing a San Jose State volleyball player amid a wave of attacks similar to what she faced in 2021 and 2022.

Although she has yet to address any gender-based allegations with media, SJSU’s Blaire Fleming was previously outed as transgender in an April article on Reduxx.com. Since then, the Spartans have faced forfeits from opponents amid a wave of criticism, lawsuits, and Title IX complaints aimed at forcing Fleming off San Jose State’s volleyball team.

‘It can be just extremely invasive and dehumanizing,’ Thomas told ESPN. ‘And it’s in a way, I think, very few people ever experience. To have my own personal identity and personhood turned into a culture war talking point just totally takes all my humanity away. It can be very difficult to keep trying to persevere through that.’

Thomas was banned from competing in elite women’s races ahead of the Olympics by The Court of Arbitration for Sport panel, which ruled that she was ineligible to challenge World Aquatics policy on trans athletes. Thomas won a national title as a woman in the 500 free while tying for fifth in the 200 free at the 2022 NCAA Finals with a Kentucky swimmer named Riley Gaines.

Gaines has since become a celebrity activist working to ban trans athletes from women’s sports.

Blaire Fleming #3 of the San Jose State Spartans looks on during a match last month
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Blaire Fleming #3 of the San Jose State Spartans looks on during a match last month

Transgender swimmer and former NCAA champion Lia Thomas is backing Blaire Fleming
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Transgender swimmer and former NCAA champion Lia Thomas is backing Blaire Fleming

The New York Times revealed on Monday that the judge has given the green light for Fleming to compete in the postseason with SJSU’s women’s team despite the uproar surrounding their inclusion.

Multiple opponents have refused to play against the Spartans this season amid safety concerns about the player, allowing them to pick up seven victories via forfeit and nab the No. 2 seed at the Mountain West Conference tourney.

Players at rival Mountain West schools had filed the lawsuit arguing trans athletes’ inclusion would knowingly violate Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in women’s sports.

However, Judge S. Kato Crews – an appointee of President Biden to the US District Court in Colorado – ruled Monday that Fleming can continue to compete on SJSU’s women’s team despite that accusation.

The lawsuit, which was filed Wednesday, asked for Fleming to be declared ineligible for the tournament, SJSU’s wins to be vacated and the team to be deemed ineligible for the conference tournament.

San Jose State's Blaire Fleming returns the ball during a match against Colorado State
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San Jose State’s Blaire Fleming returns the ball during a match against Colorado State

San Jose State volleyball player Brooke Slusser, along with 10 other current or former Mountain West players as well as SJSU associate head coach Melissa Batie-Smoose, filed a Title IX complaint claiming the university and conference officials violated their rights. Specifically, Colorado State and SJSU players were accused of colluding to target a Slusser, who has been an outspoken critic of Fleming’s.

The Mountain West Conference ultimately concluded there was insufficient evidence to determine misconduct between Colorado State and San Jose State players.

Batie-Smoose is now on leave as the allegations remain unproven.

The conference said the investigation included conversations with players and officials from both schools and review of match film and other aspects by the coaches and outside experts to conclude there wasn’t enough evidence.

‘As a result, the Conference office has determined no disciplinary action is warranted and considers this matter closed,’ Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland’s letter said.