Nine former Western Oregon University’s women’s basketball players filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the university, two coaches and multiple faculty members, alleging emotional and physical abuse that included excessive practices and inappropriate comments regarding players’ appearances.
The lawsuit, obtained by The Athletic, seeks $28 million in damages for what players said was bullying, verbal and physical abuse, and retaliation. The Division II team voted last February to forfeit its final six games of the season, and 10 of the 12 players from last year’s team did not return this season, including the nine who joined the lawsuit. The university withdrew 2024-25 scholarships for players from last season with remaining eligibility, according to the lawsuit.
Players alleged that head coach Jessica Peatross and assistant coach DJ Marlow punished them for sustaining injuries, commented on their physical appearances, threatened them with excessive conditioning if they complained and made disparaging and humiliating comments.
“Peatross and Marlow physically abused plaintiffs through using excessive and unreasonable amounts of exercise as punishment contrary to NCAA guidelines provided to all NCAA Division II schools, and emotionally abused and humiliated plaintiffs…
