First Person: Female College Athlete Speaks Out About and Sues NCAA Over Biological Male On Her Team | Ep. 915
Oct 13, 2024
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Brooke Slusser, a volleyball player from San Jose State, is suing the NCAA over a biological male on her women's team. She shares her shocking experience of discovering this when she transferred without prior knowledge. Brooke discusses the unfair physical advantages and the emotional turmoil she faced, including death threats for speaking out. She emphasizes the importance of fairness in women's sports and the challenge of navigating identity and safety within the current athletic landscape.
Brooke Slusser’s decision to sue the NCAA highlights the pressing need for transparency and fairness in women's sports amidst growing gender identity controversies.
The physical advantages that a biological male player possesses raise significant safety concerns for female athletes competing in collegiate sports.
Deep dives
Challenges in Women's Sports Equality
The discussion highlights the ongoing fight for fairness in women's sports, particularly focusing on the situation faced by collegiate women's volleyball teams in the Mountain West Conference. San Jose State University has found itself in the spotlight due to the presence of Blair Fleming, a male player competing on the women's team. The teammate, Brooke Slusser, has bravely spoken out against this situation, stating that it compromises the safety and competitive integrity of female athletes. The necessity of protecting rights for future generations of female athletes is emphasized, as many current competitors feel their opportunities and safety are at stake.
Brooke Slusser's Courageous Stand
Slusser’s decision to join a class action lawsuit against the NCAA underlines her commitment to the cause, fueled by a desire to safeguard the future of women’s sports. She recounts her experience as a transfer player who was unaware of Fleming's identity before joining the team, raising alarms about the lack of transparency from the university regarding team compositions. The emotional turmoil and confusion faced when discovering that a biological male was on her team resonate with broader concerns about safety and fairness in competition. Slusser's testimony exemplifies a personal struggle, as she balances her passion for volleyball with the perceived threat posed by competing against a player who exceeds the physical capabilities of her teammates.
Inequality and Safety Concerns
The physical disparities between male and female athletes are brought to light, particularly regarding Fleming's performance in comparison to his female teammates. Observations from gameplay demonstrate significant power differences, where reactions of fellow players in the face of Fleming highlight concerns for their safety. Slusser describes players dodging powerful swings during practice, which raises further issues about the well-being of all athletes involved. The episode underscores a fundamental argument that participation in women's sports should prioritise fairness and safety, different from athletic capability caught up in gender identity politics.
The Role of Institutions and Support
Concerns are raised about the support from San Jose State University, where it appears the institution prioritizes the needs of a single male player over the safety and rights of the female athletes. Slusser articulates her frustration with the lack of adequate responses from university officials amidst rising tensions and concerns about security due to threats against her and her teammates. The moral dilemma of prioritizing competitive equality is juxtaposed against the institutional failures to protect female athletes in today's environment. As institutions grapple with these issues, the podcast suggests that a broader discussion on the implications of their policies on gender in sports is urgently needed.
In this "First Person" bonus episode, Megyn Kelly is joined by Brooke Slusser, San Jose State volleyball player who is suing the NCAA after finding out a biological male is on her team, to talk about how she ended up on the same women's volleyball team as a male player, how she was never told about him when she transferred to the school, being forced to live with and room with while traveling the male player, what it's like to play on the same team as a male athlete, the unfair physical advantages this player has, her decision to speak out about it and join a lawsuit against the NCAA, the reaction she's gotten from coaches and her teammates, her discussion with the biological male after she went public, the bravery of other schools refusing to play her school, getting death threats over her position, and more.