Woke sports fans may have a tough time deciding which team to root for in the Mountain West Conference women’s volleyball tournament. The Saturday final pits San Jose State, whose star player is a male-to-female transgender athlete, against Colorado State, which has three players who continue to take a knee during the national anthem, a protest made popular during the Black Lives Matter heyday.
The three athletes — identified by OutKick as Malaya Jones, Kennedy Stanford, and Naeemah Weathers — kneeled ahead of Friday’s semifinal match against San Diego State. The Spartans defeated the Aztecs 3 sets to 1.
After the game, Colorado State coach Emily Kohan told reporters, "They’ve knelt since their freshman year when the Black Lives Matter movement was going on. This program raises critically thinking individuals who can make choices about what is important to them. For those three, they’re Black players, and it’s been significant for them for five years; they’ve stood their ground." Kohan added, "We’ve all supported them along the way."
Taking a knee during the national anthem became popular with athletes after NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began doing so in 2016, aiming to spotlight racial inequality and police brutality, but the gesture has lost some of its momentum since then. Now, Colorado State, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, faces second-seeded San Jose State in the championship match scheduled for 2 p.m. Pacific time Saturday in Las Vegas.
The event has drawn national attention surrounding San Jose State redshirt senior Blaire Fleming, who is a biological male participating on the women’s team. This participation sparked controversy resulting in teams forfeiting six regular-season matches. These forfeits were counted as wins for the Spartans.
San Jose State advanced to the final after Boise State withdrew from the semifinals, adding to the tournament’s dramatic narrative. Notably, Colorado State did not forfeit any games during the entire season. They are working within Colorado's legal framework, which prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in educational institutions, and lacks legislation against biological males competing against female athletes.
Kohan confirmed their participation, noting, "This has been far from a regular season. It’s been really complex and emotional for us this season. Unless you’re involved in those discussions and making those difficult decisions, you don’t know how this feels. Regardless of your opinion on the situation, we should recognize the courage shown by many young people throughout this season."
Interestingly, Malaya Jones, the Mountain West Player of the Year from Colorado State, has found herself at the center of additional controversy. She was accused under Title IX by a San Jose State associate coach of conspiring with Fleming to injure Spartans co-captain Brooke Slusser during their Oct. 3 game.
Slusser herself had been part of a lawsuit contesting the NCAA’s policy of allowing biological males to compete against women, indicating the high stakes of the tournament. The conference, after investigating the claim, stated it found insufficient evidence to take any disciplinary action.
The winner of the final will secure automatic entry to the NCAA Division I women’s volleyball tournament. With such compelling narratives surrounding the final, the game is poised to be more than just another match; it’s become emblematic of broader discussions on gender identity, social justice, and the future of sports.