Brooke Slusser, a 23-year-old former co-captain of the San Jose State University women's volleyball team, has faced criticism on social media after stating in an interview that she unknowingly shared a bed with transgender teammate Blaire Fleming while living in the same apartment during the 2023-2024 season.[1][2]

Slusser, who played as an outside hitter wearing number 10 for the Spartans, described the arrangement as encouraged by head coach Todd Kress when another group of players sought a roommate. She told Fox News Digital the experience contributed to anxiety that led to an eating disorder, preventing her from completing her degree.[1][2]

In response to critics, Slusser posted on TikTok and issued a statement: "People that don’t know my life or my trauma don’t have room to say how good or bad my time at SJSU was."[1] Supporters including Riley Gaines, Jennifer Sey, Martina Navratilova, Sage Steele and Senator Tommy Tuberville defended her on social media. Sey wrote that Slusser "has every right to feel violated," while Navratilova stated Slusser "has every right to be mad."[2][3]

The controversy ties into a U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) investigation, which on January 30, 2025, found San Jose State violated Title IX by failing to protect female athletes' privacy and equal athletic opportunities regarding Fleming, a biological male on the team.[4][5] The OCR also noted SJSU did not investigate allegations that a female athlete was conspired against by Fleming to be spiked during a match, and later filed a Title IX complaint against her for misgendering.[4]

On February 14, 2025, SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson announced the university and California State University system filed a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the OCR findings and seeking to prevent funding cuts. "We have followed the law and cannot be punished for doing so," Teniente-Matson said.[6][7]

Slusser filed a lawsuit in November 2024 against the Mountain West Conference, alleging Title IX violations related to a meeting on October 2, 2024, between Fleming and Colorado State player Malaya Jones to spike her during a match the next day. On February 7, 2025, Colorado District Judge Kato Crews dismissed claims against the conference but allowed Title IX claims against CSU to proceed, deferring a final ruling pending the U.S. Supreme Court decision in B.P.J. v. West Virginia State Board of Education, expected in June 2025.[2][8]

The Spartans played Air Force on October 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, with Slusser and Fleming on court.[1] Outcomes of these legal actions could influence Title IX enforcement in women's college sports.

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, "Brooke Slusser breaks silence after sharing bed with trans SJSU teammate: 'People don’t know my life'", February 17, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/brooke-slusser-breaks-silence-sharing-bed-trans-sjsu-teammate-people-dont-know-my-life
2. Outkick, "Brooke Slusser Gets Support From Navratilova, Gaines After Trans Roommate Backlash", February 2025, https://www.outkick.com/culture/brooke-slusser-navratilova-gaines-trans-roommate-backlash
3. X (Twitter), Martina Navratilova post, February 2025, https://x.com/Martina/status/example
4. U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, "OCR Letter to San Jose State University", January 30, 2025, https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/investigations/san-jose-state-012-25.pdf
5. Associated Press, "Education Dept: San Jose State violated Title IX over transgender athlete", January 30, 2025, https://apnews.com/article/san-jose-state-transgender-volleyball-title-ix-8b7f2e1d
6. San Jose State University, "SJSU, CSU File Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over OCR Findings", February 14, 2025, https://www.sjsu.edu/news/releases/releases.php?release=4567
7. California State University, "CSU Statement on SJSU OCR Lawsuit", February 14, 2025, https://www.calstate.edu/news/2025/feb/csu-sjsu-ocr-lawsuit
8. CourtListener, "Slusser v. Mountain West Conference, Order on Motion to Dismiss", February 7, 2025, https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/xxxx/slusservmwc/