Ray allegedly faced backlash from her coach for posting a social media photo wearing a “BOYcott” shirt in protest of Fleming’s participation, with the coach calling her actions “selfish.” Additionally, SJSU athlete Brooke Slusser, another plaintiff, claims she was targeted for retaliation after raising Title IX concerns, allegedly leading to her ostracism by SJSU’s head coach Todd Kress.
Request for Injunction and Broader Impact
The lawsuit demands that the Mountain West Conference refrain from penalizing teams that choose to forfeit matches against SJSU due to Fleming’s participation. Furthermore, the plaintiffs are asking the court to rule Fleming as an “ineligible student-athlete” and prevent his participation in future women’s volleyball events under MWC.
The Independent Council on Women’s Sports (ICON) has publicly supported the lawsuit. ICON Co-founder Marshi Smith criticized the MWC and SJSU, stating, “The disregard for the fairness and safety of female athletes is unacceptable.”
Responses and Legal Representation
San Jose State University and Mountain West Conference have both refrained from commenting on the pending litigation. SJSU noted that it had not been officially served with the lawsuit but had obtained a copy of the complaint late Wednesday. A spokesperson for Mountain West emphasized their commitment to student-athlete welfare, noting adherence to NCAA and conference policies.
