Nine former women’s basketball players at Western Oregon are suing their coaches and school, contending they were victims of physical abuse and bullying.
In the 58-page lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Oregon’s Marion County Circuit Court, the players allege head coach Jessica Peatross and assistant DJ Marlow subjected them to treatment that resulted in overuse injuries, vomiting and bloody feet. The women also claim the coaches belittled them by calling them names and insulting both their bodies and work ethic.
The players are seeking $28.2 million and additional punitive damages in the suit, which names the coaches, the athletic director, university president and dean of students.
The nine women, who were part of the 2023-24 team, also allege they were stripped of their scholarships and kicked off the team as retaliation for taking their claims to university higher-ups. They are asking for Peatross and Marlow to be fired, for the university to provide counseling to former and current players, and for players who still attend Western Oregon to be reinstated.
Peatross and Marlow were hired at Western Oregon, a Division II program, in June 2023. The season ended six games early following a dispute in practice on Feb. 12, 2024, when Peatross and a player were involved in an altercation.
In a team meeting, when coaches asked players if they wanted to continue the season, they said no.
The university issued a statement to The (Salem, Ore.) Statesman Journal in response to the suit.
“Western is committed to upholding its values and fostering an environment that promotes student success, well-being, and a sense of belonging for all,” read the statement.
The university was expecting the lawsuit after attorneys for the players filed a notice of claim last September that alleged emotional and physical abuse.
Peatross and Marlow remain the coaches of the Wolves, who are 7-11 on the season.
–Field Level Media
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