West
SJSU transgender volleyball player Blaire Fleming's college career likely over after championship loss
Draw the curtain.
San Jose State volleyball player Blaire Fleming probably played the final college volleyball game of the athlete’s career after a Mountain West Tournament final loss to Colorado State Saturday night.
Fleming led the Spartans on a run to the championship match in a senior season overshadowed by lawsuits from a teammate and a national controversy over Fleming being transgender. Fleming led the team in spikes and prompted four Mountain West rivals to forfeit a total of seven conference games, including a tournament semifinal.
But Colorado State never shied away from playing Fleming or the Spartans.
The Rams played San Jose two times in the regular season, splitting the season series, and then taking the championship match three sets to one. Colorado State’s Malaya Jones, the Mountain West player of the year, led the game with 26 kills after kneeling during the national anthem before the match.
Blaire Fleming of the San Jose State Spartans reacts during the second set against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Court at East Gym Oct. 19, 2024, in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Jones was also alleged to have conspired with Fleming in a plan to spike a ball in the face of San Jose State teammate Brooke Slusser in a game Oct. 3, according to a lawsuit filed by Slusser and a Title IX complaint.
Slusser was never spiked in the face, and the Mountain West concluded an investigation into the Title IX complaint, saying it did not find sufficient evidence of wrongdoing. Slusser’s attorney has questioned the validity of the investigation.
Fleming, meanwhile, led San Jose State in the game with 17 kills but committed nine errors and hit poorly in the first two sets when the Spartans fell in a two-sets-to-none hole.
San Jose State’s loss will also mean it won’t advance to the NCAA tournament, which would have introduced further controversy with potential matchups against teams outside the conference. Boise State forfeited its Mountain West Tournament semifinal match against San Jose State, which could have set a precedent for teams in other states with laws that prevent transgender inclusion in women’s sports.
WHO IS BLAIRE FLEMING? SJSU VOLLEYBALL PLAYER DOMINATING FEMALE RIVALS AND ENRAGING WOMEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS
Boise State, Utah State, Wyoming, Nevada and non-conference opponent Southern Utah all forfeited regular-season matches against San Jose State this season amid the controversy. Meanwhile, Louisiana Tech, which played its season opener against San Jose State Aug. 30, has told Fox News Digital it did not know Fleming was a biological male and suggested the match wouldn’t have happened if the team had known.
The situation became so widely publicized, Fleming’s presence on the team drew criticism from President-elect Trump on the campaign trail during the most recent election cycle.
Trump weighed in on the situation involving Fleming during a town hall event on Fox News Channel’s “The Faulkner Focus” Oct. 17. Trump referenced Fleming specifically, describing a video in which one of the athlete’s spikes hit another player.
“I saw the slam. It was a slam. I never saw a ball hit so hard, hit the girl in the head,” Trump said. “But other people, even in volleyball, they’ve been permanently, I mean, they’ve been really hurt badly. Women playing men. But you don’t have to do the volleyball. We stop it. We stop it. We absolutely stop it. You can’t have it.”
Trump revealed his intention to ban transgender inclusion in women’s sports if elected. It became a talking point he made sure to reference at every campaign rally from then until Election Day. He and Republican allies hammered Democrats’ position of protecting transgender inclusion, which grew increasingly unpopular.
A federal judge could have ended Fleming’s career earlier but decided to allow the player to compete in the conference tournament.
Federal Judge Kato Crews of Colorado, appointed by President Biden in January, denied a motion for injunctive relief in a lawsuit by college volleyball players against the conference.
The players were looking to have their forfeits for refusing to play against Fleming and the Spartans rescinded, which would, in turn, shift the standings heading into the tournament. They also wanted Fleming banned from the tournament.
Crews, however, wrote that the plaintiffs’ request for an emergency delay “was not reasonable” and “would risk confusion and upend months of planning and would prejudice, at a minimum, (San Jose State) and other teams participating in the tournament.”
Despite the lawsuits, Slusser and the rest of the San Jose State roster took the court with Fleming for matches all season.
Fleming was second in the conference in kills per set with a .386, still well behind Jones, who led the way at .457.
Fleming had a signature moment in the second-to-last match of the season against first-place Colorado State at home on Senior Day. Fleming led the game in kills with 24 and total attacks and clinched victory in the fifth set with a match-point service ace.
Right after the play, Fleming was swarmed by teammates in celebration. Even Slusser got involved. This group celebration took place just days after Slusser and other Mountain West players filed a second lawsuit over Fleming’s presence on the team against San Jose State and the conference.
Now, Fleming, Slusser and their other senior teammates will look ahead to their post-volleyball lives.
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Denver, CO
Kalshi Promo Code DENVER: Claim $10 Bonus for July 4th World Cup, MLB Trades – Denver Stiffs
Take advantage of a $10 sign-up bonus by signing up with Kalshi promo code DENVER and making $10 in trades on the World Cup, MLB or any other available market. Start the registration process by clicking here.
This introductory bonus applies across the full slate of July 4 knockout round matches, featuring Canada against Morocco and France taking on Paraguay, as well as any other World Cup match scheduled for the week. Not to mention, there are tons of options for baseball fans with a full slate of MLB action this weekend.
Kalshi Promo Code DENVER: Trade $10, Get $10 Bonus
Eligible new Kalshi customers receive a clear path to a $10 sign-up bonus designed for the full slate of World Cup Round of 16 matchups. Whether users are analyzing Morocco taking on Canada or evaluating France against Paraguay, this introductory bonus provides additional capital to trade on any of the scheduled knockout stage matches.
To utilize this promotion, users must be at least 18 years of age and make a first-time deposit of at least $1. The $10 bonus successfully unlocks after the user executes $10 in total trades on the prediction markets. Kalshi operates in all 50 states, giving soccer fans a regulated, nationwide platform to trade on World Cup outcomes.
World Cup Matches: Win Probabilities
The Saturday World Cup matches look lopsided on paper. Morocco and France are massive favorites against Canada and Paraguay, respectively. However, knockout stage games can be unpredictable. All it takes is one moment of brilliance, or a terrible mistake, to completely flip a game on its head. Take a quick look at the current probabilities for Saturday’s games.
Matchup (Home vs. Away)
Home Win %
Draw %
Away Win %
Canada vs. Morocco
17%
28%
57%
Paraguay vs. France
5%
13%
84%
It’s also worth noting that there are tons of options for MLB fans. Start making trades on games like Yankees-Twins, Mets-Braves, Dodgers-Padres and more. All it takes is a $10 trade to unlock the $10 bonus.
Getting Started With Kalshi Promo Code DENVER
Claiming the introductory offer requires a straightforward, sequential process. Follow the steps below to secure the sign-up bonus ahead of the opening whistle for Canada vs. Morocco and Paraguay vs. France:
- Create an Account: Register by providing standard personal information. Users must also upload proof of identification to verify their identity and comply with platform regulations.
- Enter the Promo Code: During the registration workflow, input the Kalshi promo code DENVER to officially opt into the welcome offer.
- Make a Deposit: Fund the newly created account with a first-time deposit of at least $1.
- Trade on Predictions: Execute $10 worth of trades on Kalshi’s prediction markets. There is no requirement to place a single trade worth $10; the total cumulative volume of all trades simply needs to reach the $10 threshold to qualify.
Once these steps conclude and total trade volume hits $10, the $10 sign-up bonus unlocks and appears in the account balance. Once activated, this bonus provides the flexibility to trade on any of the upcoming World Cup matches scheduled throughout the week.
Seattle, WA
Experts release new WNBA predictions for Portland Fire vs. Seattle Storm tonight
An exciting cross-conference WNBA matchup takes center stage on Independence Day as the Portland Fire travel north to the Emerald City to clash with the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at 6:00 PM PT.
The home-standing Storm look to assert their dominance behind a balanced offensive attack led by dynamic playmaker Dominique Malonga and veteran guard Naty Hiedeman. The visiting Fire will try to play the ultimate holiday spoiler, counting on a heavy scoring punch from Carla Leite to disrupt Seattle’s defensive rhythm. To help you locate the sharpest analytical angles before tip-off, we cross-referenced our advanced game simulations with live, crowd-sourced contract data from Polymarket, the world’s largest decentralized prediction platform.
Fire vs. Storm: Matchup Overview
- Teams: Portland Fire vs. Seattle Storm
- Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
- Time: 6:00 PM PT
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle, WA)
Current Betting Odds
- Spread: Storm -4.5 (+100), Fire +4.5 (-106)
- Total (Over/Under): 171.5 Points
- Moneyline: Fire +170, Storm -174
The odds and lines featured in this article are the best available from selected sports betting sites like Novig and BetMGM at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Polymarket Prediction Market Insights:
Polymarket’s liquid wagering pools offer real-time tracking of public and sharp sentiment, where contract share prices adjust fluidly to represent precise market-implied probabilities:
- Seattle Storm Moneyline (To Win): 63¢ (63% implied probability)
- Portland Fire Moneyline (To Win): 38¢ (38% implied probability)
- Storm Spread (-4.5): 50¢ (50% implied probability)
- Fire Spread (+4.5): 52¢ (52% implied probability)
- Total Points Over 171.5: 51¢ (51% implied probability)
- Total Points Under 171.5: 50¢ (50% implied probability)
(Note: Prediction market participants on Polymarket are trading the game notably closer than standard sportsbooks, pricing Seattle as a more modest 63% moneyline favorite).
Deep Betting Market Analysis & Projections
By routing raw roster efficiency matrices, player matchup data, and home-court advantages through 10,000 algorithmic simulations, our predictive engine has mapped out the highest-probability vectors for Saturday’s showdown:
1. Outright Moneyline: Seattle Storm (73.7% Win Probability)
- The Data: Our machine-learning model gives Seattle a commanding 73.7% probability to win straight up.
- The Angle: This represents a massive value gap on the prediction exchanges. While sportsbooks have priced the Storm heavily at -174, Polymarket traders are valuing Seattle shares at just 63¢. Backing the Storm moneyline contract on Polymarket provides exceptional statistical leverage over standard bookmaker juice.
2. The Point Spread: Storm -4.5 (+100)
- The Data: Simulations indicate a strong 58.0% probability that Seattle covers the -4.5 spread.
- The Angle: Our model projects a final score of Storm 88, Fire 81, indicating a seven-point victory for the hosts. Laying the 4.5 points with Seattle at even money (+100) on Novig represents an analytical edge over public sentiment.
3. Game Total: Under 171.5 Points (+106)
- The Data: The simulation baseline shows a clear 58.6% lean toward the Under.
- The Angle: Our projected combined score sits at 169 points. With Novig offering a plus-money premium of +106 on the Under, fading a high-scoring track meet provides a very comfortable mathematical cushion compared to public expectations.
WNBA Player Props: Projected Box Scores
To evaluate how the individual stars will impact the floor at Climate Pledge Arena, here is the statistical breakdown from our game simulations:
Seattle Storm Projection
- Dominique Malonga: 18 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST
- Naty Hiedeman: 14 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST
- Awak Kuier Fam: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
- Flau’jae Johnson: 12 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
- Jordan Horston: 6 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST
Portland Fire Projection
- Carla Leite: 15 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST
- Brack Carleton: 10 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
- Megan Gustafson: 9 PTS, 3 REB, 1 AST
- Luisa Geiselsoder: 9 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
- Emily Engstler: 8 PTS, 5 REB, 2 AST
Fire vs. Storm Summary:
The data signals a celebratory night for Seattle fans, as the Storm are structurally positioned to handle their Pacific Northwest rivals. While backing Seattle on the flat moneyline via Polymarket yields the highest pure value, locking in Under 171.5 points (+106) provides an excellent statistical fallback play.
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San Diego, CA
Local bestselling author Jim Dutton to speak at DMCC in-person meeting in Del Mar
Jim Dutton, local bestselling author, will discuss his legal thriller Path to Revenge at an in-person meeting at 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 23. hosted by Del Mar Community Connections Page Turners. The meeting will be held at St. Peter’s Parish Hall, 334 14th St. in Del Mar. The discussion occurs in partnership with the Del Mar branch library. Registration is required. DMCC has reserved a limited number of complimentary copies of the novel for 92014 residents who want to get in on the discussion.
Revenge is a dish best served cold, and in this explosive sequel, it’s lethal. Path to Revenge is a gripping psychological legal thriller that dives into government corruption, internal affairs investigations, and grand jury drama. Haunted by his past and driven by a relentless need for justice, Nick Drummond finds himself torn apart by an organized crime vendetta and his actions to bury the truth. If you love unreliable heroes, hard-boiled detectives, and high-stakes litigation, this is your next binge-worthy read, a news release states.
Dutton was a career prosecutor in California. National television shows 48 Hours, Cold Case, and Forensic Files have featured his murder trials. He prosecuted numerous child molestation and rape cases. He was the chief of the California Attorney General’s Money Laundering Program for 20 years and testified before the U.S. Congress several times on that subject. Dutton was the representative for human trafficking for the San Diego-based California Attorney General’s Office and incorporated a human trafficking analysis in his Money Laundering Manual for law enforcement, the news release stated.
Dutton is an avid outdoorsman, photographer, and traveler. He has written numerous travel and legal articles over the years. He lives with his wife, two sons, and their incorrigible, skunk-seeking dog, Wylie Coyote, in Del Mar.
Del Mar Community Connections (DMCC) is an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization with a mission to support and serve the older adults of Del Mar so that they may age independently at home. DMCC helps seniors live active, vibrant lives by providing transportation, education, and social activities, including cultural discussions like Page Turners. Those interested in attending the discussion will find the registration link at www.dmcc.cc/PageTurnersRegistration, or call the DMCC office at (858) 792-7565 to receive assistance.
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