Former San Jose State University women’s volleyball player Brooke Slusser has publicly condemned the handling of a transgender athlete controversy involving her former teammate, Brooke Fleming. The situation, which reignited national debate over inclusivity and gender equity in sports, centers on allegations that Fleming, who is transitioning from male to female, conspired with a Colorado State player to harm her during a game. Slusser’s accusations, which she brought to light during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s America Reports, have intensified scrutiny over how the Mountain West Conference managed the case.
The conference hired Willkie Farr & Gallagher (WFG) to investigate the allegations against Fleming, but WFG also represented the conference in a legal battle to defend Fleming’s eligibility for the women’s competition and the conference tournament. Slusser argued that this dual use of the law firm created a conflict of interest and allowed the conference to avoid a thorough investigation. Although the investigation was closed after three days with Fleming being cleared of impropriety, Slusser pointed out that no evidence was ever disclosed, enabling Fleming to continue her season and even lead SJS, U to the Mountain West championship game.
Slusser expressed frustration over the lack of accountability and what she perceived as a deliberate effort to cover up the allegations. “They need to be held accountable for using the same law firm and not doing a thorough investigation because Title IX was built to protect women,” she said. “And they’re obviously deciding to protect the man in this situation when they were blatantly trying to harm a female athlete at their school.” She emphasized that similar issues are occurring at other schools, but they are not receiving the same level of attention.
In addition to Slusser’s criticisms, William Bock, the attorney representing 11 current or former conference women’s athletes in a lawsuit against SJSU and the Mountain West, also weighed in on the matter. His comments came after a recent White House statement on the issue, which has prompted further scrutiny of the situation. Despite the controversy, the Mountain West Conference, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and San Jose State University have not publicly responded to the allegations or requests for comment.
Slusser’s experience has left a lasting impact on her. “The goal is to never have to let another female athlete go through what I did,” she said. “The sport was ruined for me my senior season. So, the goal is to give back to those young girls who had the same dream that I did but to be able to love it the entire time.” Her hope is that future athletes will not face the same challenges, and her advocacy has become a focal point for the ongoing debate over transgender athletes in collegiate sports.