The San José State volleyball team was at the center of a national controversy in 2024 over the participation of a transgender women. The Education Department said Wednesday that San José State University’s decision to allow a transgender woman to compete on the women’s volleyball team violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. While Fleming played, NCAA policies and the federal Title IX regulations didn’t explicitly bar transgender athletes from competing in the sport that aligned with their gender identity. The apology note should express “sincere regret for placing female athletes in that position,” according to the department’s news release. An SJSU spokesperson said in a statement that the university was reviewing the department’s finding and proposed resolution agreement.