UC Davis athletics asked San Jose State for advice on a 'prospective' transgender athlete, emails reveal



An athletics official from the University of California at Davis reached out to a San Jose State University athletics official for advice on how to bring a transgender athlete aboard one of its teams.

According to documents obtained by writer Dan Zaksheske, Melissa Hughes, the associate athletics director of sports medicine at UC Davis, emailed SJSU's senior associate athletic director about bringing a potential transgender student athlete onto a UC Davis sports team.

The associate athletic director, Laura Alexander, would likely have a plethora of knowledge in terms of dealing with a transgender athlete after SJSU grabbed national headlines throughout 2024 for featuring a male athlete on its women's volleyball team. Blaire Fleming — born Brayden — is a 6'1'' male whose participation in NCAA women's volleyball games spawned a series of forfeits from opposing team and helped spark a national movement to protect women's sports.

'Happy to chat.'

"We have a prospective student athlete who is transgender, and I was told you have a current student athlete who is transgender," Hughes wrote to Alexander in an email sent September 16, 2024. "Primarily I would like to know what you may have done with respect to education and counseling leading up to the student athlete coming aboard."

Alexander reportedly responded by saying, "Happy to chat," and provided her phone number to Hughes.

Alexander did not respond to a request to confirm whether or not the two had a conversation about the prospective transgender athlete.

About a month before the email in question, Alexander was named to the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Committee. The position assists with selecting and seeding teams for the NCAA Women's Volleyball championships. On her X page, Alexander routinely shares "Juneteenth" celebrations and even shared a "Women in Sports Day" post in 2022 that did not appear to feature any transgender athletes.

Hughes is involved in professional development and sports medicine and is a member of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and the California Athletic Trainers' Association.

"It’s absolutely wild to watch two women in positions of power not just allowing this, but strategizing how to recruit men for women’s teams," said former NCAA swimmer Kaitlynn Wheeler. "What's happening here isn't inclusion … it's exploitation. It's not 'brave' or 'progressive' for two women in leadership positions to conspire behind the scenes about how to recruit a man for a women's team. It's cowardice."

The male athlete from SJSU received backing from his school throughout the 2024 season, particularly from his coach Todd Kress, who consistently blamed opposing teams for allegedly hateful remarks.

According to an SJSU assistant coach who was suspended after making public remarks, Kress even filed complaints against his own athletes for speaking out against the team's male player without using his preferred pronouns.

Kress also called the past season "one of the most difficult" he has experienced.

Blaze News reached out to Hughes regarding the content of the email and which athletics team she was thinking about bringing a transgender athlete onto. This article will be updated with any applicable responses.

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Volleyball player injured by transgender athlete reveals she was booted from sorority for confronting male in female bathroom



A former athlete who advocates against men in women's sports revealed she was kicked out of a sorority because she questioned a man as to why he was in a women's bathroom.

Payton McNabb was just 17 years old when she was hit in the face with a volleyball that was spiked by a male athlete playing on a women's team. She soon spoke out about having suffered a concussion, brain damage, and paralysis on one side of her face.

Now 19, McNabb has proven she was kicked out of her sorority at Western Carolina University for "bullying."

The claim from Delta Zeta stemmed from a 2024 video in which McNabb confronted a male who was in the female bathroom.

"What are you doing?" McNabb asked the male in the video.

"Going to the bathroom," the man in a yellow dress and hat responded.

"Why are you in the girls' bathroom?" she replied.

"I'm a trans girl," he claimed.

"But you're not a girl," McNabb said back.

Persistent, the male then said, "Oh, we're doing one of these?"

"I've never had this before. I don't know what to say. I'm sorry you feel that way," the male added.

As the unknown individual exited the bathroom, McNabb remarked that she pays money — to the school — to feel safe in the bathroom, and she asked the individual if he thought what he was doing was OK.

'Men don't belong in women's bathrooms.'

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA athlete and women's sports activist, posted the video alongside a letter from the sorority.

The letter stated McNabb's membership had been "terminated" on the grounds of "bullying."

Written like a document from a futuristic dystopian government, the sorority also listed "Outcome: Responsible" in reference to McNabb for a second "violation" for "Moral-Prejudicial Conduct."

That alleged violation was described as "conduct which is prejudicial to the Sorority, tending to bring it into disrepute; obstructs the work or discipline of the chapter; or fails to uphold the expectations of conduct expected of Delta Zetas, thereby offending her fellow members."

McNabb shared the video and letter on her X account and said her removal from the sorority was based on her "stating the simple truth."

"Men don't belong in women's bathrooms. Instead of standing by me, they chose to appease a grown man living in a false reality. The organization meant to empower women turned its back on one to protect a lie," McNabb added.

Payton McNabb (C) and Second Lady Usha Vance (R) attend President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol on March 4, 2025, in Washington, DC. Photo by Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

McNabb attended President Trump's address to a joint session of Congress last week and received praise from the president for her resilience through all of her endeavors.

As reported by Blaze News, McNabb later criticized Democrats who attended the session after many wore pink suits in solidarity with women, despite no Democrats voting in favor of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, legislation aimed at keeping men out of women's sports.

"Last night, I thought that the pink suits and everyone matching was real cute," McNabb remarked. "The day before, zero Democrats voted for the protection of women and girls, and then zero Democrats stood and applauded when I was getting recognized for my injury."

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NCAA Keeps Touting ‘Fairness’ While Refusing To Ban Men From Women’s Sports

The NCAA doesn't need to wait for Trump to issue additional guidance and force its hand to protect our female athletes.

New Pro Golf Policy Will Let Men Compete As Women If They Look Girly Enough

The new LGPA policy will block the next Lia Thomas, while propping the door open for the next Blaire Fleming or Imane Khelif.

'Girls must compete against girls': Christian school forfeits state championships over male player on girls' volleyball team



A high school girls' volleyball team in California refused to play in a tournament match after learning their opponent has a male athlete on their team.

Stone Ridge Christian School was set to play San Francisco Waldorf in the California Interscholastic Federation State Girls Volleyball Championship playoffs. However, after learning the San Francisco team had a male player, the team has announced its intention to forfeit.

A copy of a school letter sent to parents, posted on X, revealed that the school was standing on its religious beliefs as the reason to not participate.

"As many of you know, our girls won on Wednesday and advanced to the state playoffs," the letter dated November 15 began. "Unfortunately, we were just informed that our opponent, San Francisco Waldorf, has a male athlete playing for their team."

"We believe God's Word is authoritative and infallible. It is Truth. And as Genesis makes clear, God wonderfully and immutably created each person as male or female," the letter continued.

"We do not believe sex is changeable and we do not intend to participate in events that send a different message," it added.

The message concluded by expressing a "duty and responsibility" for the safety of the students, expressing that standing on their beliefs "means more" than the game.

The school then asked recipients to congratulate the student-athletes.

'We will always stand for Biblical truth.'

The male student was identified by outlet Reduxx as Henry Hanlon, a senior who also plays on the Waldorf girls' basketball team.

Hanlon has likely sparked previous forfeits in basketball, particularly from the Islamic school Averroes High School, which declined to specify the reason for its forfeiture.

In a statement to Blaze News, Stone Ridge said it intends to stand for what the school believes is the truth.

"We will always stand for Biblical truth and what is right."

"Girls must compete against girls for fairness safety and truth," the school added.

Stone Ridge has a history of going against the grain in the ultra-liberal state of California. In 2021, it was one of three schools to receive a two-year playoff ban in high school football for playing while COVID-19 shutdowns were in effect.

Capital Christian, Ripon Christian, and Stone Ridge received bans, in addition to their teams and athletic departments being placed on probation.

Sac-Joaquin Section school district said at the time that while it "understood that the postponement of interscholastic athletics" was "frustrating," it expected all schools to follow the rules set forth by the governor's office.

Commissioner Michael Garrison called the shutdown a "public safety issue" and expressed disappointment that the schools did not follow directives.

Stone Ridge is reportedly seeking counsel for the volleyball debacle from Alliance Defending Freedom.

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NCAA volleyball players file lawsuit over male athlete on women's team after 'transgender participation policy' is revealed



Nearly a dozen NCAA athletes and one coach are suing the Mountain West Conference over alleged First Amendment violations that stem from a male athlete playing against women.

Officials at San Jose State University are also named in the lawsuit that alleges the female athletes were subject to a new "Transgender Participation Policy" that sought to "suppress the free speech rights of women athletes."

The lawsuit, backed by the Independent Council on Women's Sports, claims the defendants manipulated conference rules, "diminished sport opportunities for women," and used their position to punish dozens of female college athletes for taking a stand against having to compete against men in their sport.

That athlete is SJSU's transgender player, Blaire Fleming. Born Brayden, Fleming is a 6'1'' male whose inclusion on the team has sparked five separate forfeits from opposing teams

According to the provided Transgender Participation Policy, the decision whether to allow a "transgender athlete" to participate in intercollegiate athletics is at the discretion of each school, determined by its own "interaction with the individual [and] the application of state law."

— (@)

Shockingly, the policy states that the NCAA will "not entertain inquiries or challenges regarding the eligibility of transgender student-athletes." Schools are also not required to provide information to their opponents about whether or not there is a transgender athlete on their team.

"It shall be the discretion of the certifying institution whether or not to provide pertinent information," the policy states.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit include three women from the University of Wyoming, two from Boise State, and two from University of Nevada Reno.

Nevada's Sia Liilii previously spoke to Blaze News, simply stating that she and her teammates got together and decided what was happening "isn't right."

Brooke Slusser (left) lines up alongside transgender athlete Blaire Fleming (right).Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

'I will do everything to protect this opportunity for other girls and women.'

Two of Fleming's own teammates from SJSU have joined the lawsuit, along with the Associate Head Coach of Women’s Volleyball Melissa Batie-Smoose.

The coach was recently suspended after speaking out on the issue and even alleged that Fleming had conspired against his own teammate (Brooke Slusser, also named in the lawsuit) with an opponent to try to injure her.

Utah State captain Kaylie Ray, another plaintiff, called for more support from the Mountain West Conference and NCAA.

"We need leaders in the Mountain West and NCAA to step up. Being a woman in sports has shaped my life, and I will do everything to protect this opportunity for other girls and women."

San Jose State University and its staff have not returned requests for comments on the situation, nor have they been willing to address any claims made by the student-athletes or coach.

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Nevada athletics director denies pressuring female volleyball players to 'stay quiet' and play against a man



The director of athletics at the University of Nevada has denied shocking allegations that she told female athletes at her school that a man was actually the athlete with a disadvantage when playing against women.

After the Nevada women's volleyball team made a very public forfeit against San Jose State University — the fifth team to do so — the group of women held a press conference to explain their decision.

The primary reason: SJSU has a 6'1" male — Blaire Fleming, born Brayden — on its roster.

'We were told we weren't educated enough.'

During their press conference, the Nevada players were led by captain Sia Liilii, who claimed that when the team spoke to school administrators, the officials refused to even listen to their statements:

"We were told we weren't educated enough, and we didn't understand the science," Liilii said.

Furthermore, Liilii told OutKick that Nevada athletic director Stephanie Rempe told the girls that it was actually Fleming who is "at a disadvantage" when competing against women due to being on testosterone blockers and estrogen supplements.

"She told us that it's harder for [Fleming] to play against [women] than it is for [women] to play against a male athlete," the team captain continued.

"[Rempe] went on to say that we would be liable for a lawsuit because we would be taking an opportunity away from San Jose State to play a game," Liilii added. "But, before [Rempe] said that, [Rempe said], 'I don't mean this as a threat or anything.'"

In an email to Blaze News, Rempe firmly denied the accusations made against her and said her interactions with her volleyball team lasted less than a total of 10 minutes:

The deputy athletics director and I met with the volleyball team and coaching staff on October 7, where every member of the team had an opportunity to share their feelings about the situation, ask questions, give their input on next steps and we provided the opportunity for resources.

I did not tell, and am unaware of any member of the athletics administrative team telling, members of our women’s volleyball team that they 'weren't educated enough,' that they 'didn't understand the science,' that they should reconsider their position or that they should 'stay quiet' regarding their participation in an Oct. 26 match that was scheduled against San Jose State University.

On October 14 and October 22, I spoke with the team for less than five minutes each time and those gatherings were operational in nature. At all three meetings, I shared our genuine apology for not sharing the statement released on October 3 in advance of their match against UNLV. As has been stated on multiple occasions, we continue to support the rights of the volleyball players who choose and choose not to participate.

The focus of our athletic department has always been on the well-being and success of our student-athletes, including their ability to learn and grow from their personal and competitive experiences at our University. This remains our overriding priority regarding all the members of our women’s volleyball team.

Blaze News also asked Rempe whether or not she believes that men or "transgender women" should be able to compete in the female category of NCAA athletics.

This article will be updated should be there be an applicable response from the university.

— (@)

Fleming's inclusion in women's volleyball has caused so much controversy in the Mountain West Conference that Boise State, Utah State, Wyoming, and now Nevada have forfeited matches. Southern Utah, which is in the Western Athletic Conference, also forfeited.

Fleming's teammate Brooke Slusser spoke to Blaze News about the unfair advantage the male athlete has and the reason teams are forfeiting against SJSU.

"I think we all know the reason the games are canceled," Slusser said.

At the same time, Nevada's Liilii has stated that while her team allegedly felt pressure to play against the male, they couldn't hold their true feelings inside.

"You could feel the fake energy because we were all trying to band together and ... just put this on the shelf and not think about it for a week," she recalled. "But honestly, as a woman, I don't know how to shut anything down."

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Nevada women's volleyball captain sheds tears as team forfeits against opponent with male player: 'Not what we signed up for'



Nevada women's volleyball captain Sia Liilii delivered emotional remarks as her team officially forfeited a game against San Jose State University, which has a male on its women's team.

Nevada players had announced their intention to forfeit weeks prior to their game against SJSU, which has a 6'1" male — Blaire Fleming, born Brayden — on its roster.

'This is what bravery looks like, this is what leadership looks like.'

However, University of Nevada officials rejected the players' vote and said the game would go on as scheduled in accordance with NCAA rules and state laws surrounding gender inclusion.

Last week, the match was moved from Nevada to SJSU "in the best interest of both programs and the well-being of the student-athletes, coaches, athletic staff and spectators," a statement read.

Andrew Wevers/Getty Images

As reported by Outkick, it wasn't until the day before the match — scheduled for this past Saturday — that Nevada officials finally announced a forfeit.

"Due to not having enough players to compete, the University of Nevada women's volleyball team will not play its scheduled Mountain West Conference match at San José State," the school reportedly said in a statement.

Nevada players held a news conference at game time Saturday with the support of the Independent Council on Women’s Sports as well as former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines.

Image source: Independent Council on Women’s Sports video screenshot, used by permission

You can view video of the news conference here. Gaines begins speaking after the 9:30 mark; Liilii begins speaking after the 19-minute mark.

At least nine members of the Nevada team stood on stage during the presser, all wearing shirts that read "BOYcott."

"This is what bravery looks like, this is what leadership looks like," Gaines stated before introducing Liilii. "Certainly more bravery and leadership than the people who are supposed to be protecting them have shown."

Liilii received a standing ovation upon taking the podium, bringing the senior to tears as she prepared to deliver her remarks.

"I never expected to be blindsided ... having to compete against a male athlete," the Hawaiian student began. "When the news broke, I was stunned, as many of my teammates were. This is not what we signed up for."

'We were told we weren't educated enough, and we didn't understand the science.'

In addition to Nevada, four other schools have forfeited against SJSU, however, none have given specific reasons as to why they were doing so. This, despite Fleming's own teammate saying, "We all know the reason."

The Nevada team captain addressed this head on, saying that the "the vague messages" from other schools weren't "directly addressing the injustice" the women were facing in their sport.

She added that her school even made its decision without consulting its own players, the ones who were directly in danger: "We were not consulted, we were not given a voice, and we did not agree."

Shockingly, the athlete revealed that when the team spoke to school administrators, the officials refused to even listen to their statements: "We were told we weren't educated enough, and we didn't understand the science." With that, the crowd in attendance loudly booed.

Blaze News on Monday reached out to the school for comment on Liilii's aforementioned assertion but didn't immediately hear back.

Liilii explained that she and her teammates did not expect to have to "fight for basic fairness" and that they do indeed understand the difference between a male and a female athlete.

She went on to ask the NCAA an open question: "How many young women will have to be beaten, or see their friends get beaten out of an opportunity by a male, before enough is enough?"

Liilii concluded, "Men do not belong in women's sports. If you were born a male, you do not belong in women's sports."

Nevada on Tuesday is scheduled to play Utah State before returning home to play Boise State on Nov. 2; both Utah State and Boise State teams also forfeited matches against SJSU.

On SJSU's schedule, the team lists the forfeited matches as "no contest."

On Nevada's schedule, however, the loss reads "forfeit."

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NCAA exec seems to plead ignorance about trans athletes on women's teams, says she doesn't know much of 'the science' yet



NCAA Mountain West Conference commissioner Gloria Nevarez said she isn't familiar with the language or the science surrounding issues and problems with a transgender athlete playing on a women's team in her conference.

San Jose State University has garnered international attention because the school's women's volleyball team features a 6'1" male athlete named Blaire Fleming, born Brayden.

'We have an election year. It's political, so yeah, it feels like a no-win ...'

Four teams have issued forfeitures since the controversy began: Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming. The ladies at Nevada have also declared they do not wish to play Fleming, but school administrators decided the game would go on.

Nevarez said in a recent press conference that the situation breaks her heart because "they're human beings, young people, student athletes on both sides of this issue that are getting a lot of national negative attention."

"It just doesn't feel right to me," she continued, according to the Associated Press.

The MWC commissioner then explained she isn't very educated on the topic — presumably men playing in women's sports — and said she isn't sure about the "language" or the "science" surrounding the issue.

"I'm learning a lot about the issue. ... I don't know a lot of the language yet or the science or the understanding nationally of how this issue plays out," Nevarez said. "The external influences are so far on either side. We have an election year. It's political, so yeah, it feels like a no-win based on all the external pressure."

Nevarez did not appear to directly address the root of the problem and avoided referring to the player, Fleming, as a male or female: "The student athlete [in question] meets the eligibility standard, so if a team does not play them, it's a forfeit, meaning they take a loss."

SJSU coach Todd Kress has displayed a similar attitude, addressing the fact that his players are receiving hate messages without explaining why: "I know that it's definitely taken a toll on many of them. They're receiving messages of hate, which is completely ridiculous to me."

Kress added that "when we had our first forfeit, there was a lot of heartbreak. And now, we've kind of, not come to expect it, but we know the certain programs that may forfeit. It still does hurt our student athletes when we don't play a match, but I think they've come to accept it a little more, and I think that's a very unfortunate thing to say."

What Kress seems not to address is that allegedly most of his female volleyball players are against having a male on their team — and are receiving hate for speaking out against his presence.

One SJSU player, Brooke Slusser, spoke to Blaze News and said everyone involved knows exactly the reason why opposing teams have forfeited games.

She added that the school has largely ignored the feelings of the female athletes and has instead focused on the male athlete and whether he's comfortable playing among the women.

"What I'm going through ... is something, to my bones, I don't agree with. It's not right," Slusser said.

Nevada's captain, Sia Liilii, has echoed the same sentiments.

She told Blaze News that her school hasn't supported the team and spoke about administrators ignoring her team's vote to forfeit: "Unfortunately our university decided not to back us, and they decided they're going to have the match as scheduled."

Liilii added that "the vast majority of us decided that this isn't right, [and] we need to protect women's sports, and we're going to forfeit."

It appears as though many coaches and administrators continue to ignore the elephant in the room and have shown no signs of going against state or NCAA rules.

A group of women including attorneys and former athletes recently met with the United Nations to plead for international governing bodies to disqualify men from playing in women's sports.

One of the representatives declared that women's achievements that have been affected by male participation in sports can "no longer be ignored."

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Exclusive: Nevada women's volleyball captain doubles down on team's refusal to play transgender opponent



The captain of the University of Nevada women's volleyball team told Blaze News in an exclusive interview that she's disappointed her school decided not to support the team's decision to forfeit a game against a squad with a transgender player.

"Unfortunately our university decided not to back us, and they decided they're going to have the match as scheduled," Nevada Wolf Pack captain Sia Liilii said.

'No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe — period.'

As Blaze News previously reported, San Jose State University's women's volleyball team features a 6'1" male athlete named Blaire Fleming, born Brayden.

Fleming's presence on the SJSU squad has been the unofficial reason behind four forfeitures by teams at Boise State, Southern Utah, Utah State, and Wyoming.

Even Fleming's own teammate has spoken out about the unfair advantage the male athlete has over female players.

Nevada was next in line to withdraw from a match against SJSU after the Wolf Pack players released a statement announcing their refusal to participate in a match that would jeopardize their safety.

However, school officials decided to override the will of the players and declare that the match against SJSU would proceed as scheduled.

The University of Nevada claimed the players made their decision and statement "independently" and "without consultation with the University or the athletic department."

However, Liilii said she and her teammates tried to go through the proper channels and inform school administrators how they felt, but the university still decided to push forward with the scheduled match.

"The vast majority of us decided that this isn't right, [that] we need to protect women's sports, and we're going to forfeit," the team captain explained.

She added, "To know that the university didn't acknowledge the fact that we're the team that is going to play against [Fleming] was really frustrating, and the way they went about it was not OK."

Liilii said administrators later scheduled a meeting with the team to apologize and let players know the school would not be punishing them if they choose to sit out against SJSU on Oct. 26.

When asked about the contradiction between the school not punishing players while publicly refusing to back their decision to forfeit, Liilii told Blaze News she felt the school was finding a way to distance itself from the players' stance while still following state and NCAA rules surrounding gender diversity.

But Liilii added that she's received a lot of support, particularly from politicians such as Tulsi Gabbard and U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), both of whom recently attended a Nevada women's volleyball game.

"Thank you Sam Brown, Tulsi Gabbard, and Mark Wayne Mullin [sic] for showing your support at our match against Utah State tonight!" Liilii wrote on X.

— (@)

"Although our university hasn't supported us in this decision, our governor ... [Joe] Lombardo came out with a statement which was really reassuring, too," LiiLiii noted.

Lombardo issued a statement on X about the ordeal, saying in part, "No student athlete should ever be pressured to play a game where they don’t feel safe — period."

"I wholeheartedly respect the decision of the players," the governor added.

— (@)

"We do have people behind us that are supporting us, and that is really important," Liilii said.

The Nevada captain added that she hopes she will soon "see the light at the end of the tunnel" regarding this controversy.

Regarding whether or not the Nevada volleyball players will protest, participate, or sit out during the SJSU match, Liilii said, "you'll just have to see."

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