Ex-Wisconsin Women’s Basketball Players Sue Former Coach for Mental Abuse

In a shocking turn, five former University of Wisconsin women’s basketball players have filed a lawsuit against their ex-coach Marisa Moseley, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, and former women’s basketball administrator Justin Doherty. They’re alleging severe mental and psychological abuse—stuff like threats, coercion, and discrimination based on disabilities or even just perceived disabilities.

This lawsuit puts a glaring spotlight on mental health abuse in college sports. It really makes you wonder about the responsibility university officials have to protect their athletes.

Allegations of Mental and Psychological Abuse

The plaintiffs—Alexis Duckett, Krystyna Ellew, Mary Ferrito, Tara Stauffacher, and Tessa Towers—claim that Marisa Moseley *unconstitutionally toyed with the mental health of her players* to control nearly every aspect of their lives. The lawsuit lists several types of alleged abuse, like:

• Retaliation based on protected speech and expressive acts
• Discrimination based on disabilities or perceived disabilities
• Interference with mental health treatment
• Coercion to sign broad agreements releasing medical records

Specific Incidents Highlighted in the Lawsuit

The lawsuit details specific incidents that show the severity of what happened. Tessa Towers, for example, said Moseley and her staff threatened to kick her off the team if she didn’t follow their demands about her mental health.

Towers said she had to sign a release form so her coach could access her therapy sessions. She also claimed she was told she’d be removed from the team if she said *anything close* to thoughts of suicide or death during therapy.

On top of that, Towers alleged she was forced to take an autism test. She faced a grim choice: admit herself to a mental hospital or get kicked off the team.

Krystyna Ellew, another plaintiff, went through a mental health event where Moseley allegedly kept her in the back of the locker room and threatened to call the police unless she checked into a mental health facility. These stories paint a pretty disturbing picture of the environment under Moseley’s leadership.

University’s Alleged Inaction and Retaliation

The lawsuit says the players reported this abusive behavior to Justin Doherty and other university officials, but no one stepped in. The plaintiffs describe the university’s response as a *policy of laissez-faire inaction*, which they believe let the abuse continue.

Instead of helping with the mental health issues caused by Moseley’s actions, the university allegedly punished the players. They say the school coerced them into signing agreements to release their medical records if they wanted to stay on the team.

Impact on Players’ Mental Health

The psychological toll on the players was huge. Towers’ teammates apparently knew about her ADHD diagnosis and saw their coach bully her because of it.

Moseley allegedly threatened to take away their playing time if they visited Towers in a mental health facility or kept up their friendships with her. That kind of pressure just made the players’ mental health struggles worse and created a culture of fear and isolation on the team.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Outcomes

The plaintiffs filed the lawsuit against Moseley and other University of Wisconsin officials in the District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin. They’re seeking compensatory and punitive damages, among other penalties.

This legal fight could have a big impact on how college sports programs handle mental health issues for athletes. It’s one of those cases you can’t help but watch closely.

Broader Implications for Collegiate Sports

This case really shows how urgently universities need to prioritize their athletes’ mental well-being. It also points to the need for better systems to report and address abuse.

The allegations against Moseley and university officials highlight just how risky it is to ignore mental health concerns. Creating a safe, supportive environment for student-athletes isn’t just important—it’s essential.

Conclusion

The allegations of mental and psychological abuse within the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball program are, honestly, pretty disturbing.

Five former players—Alexis Duckett, Krystyna Ellew, Mary Ferrito, Tara Stauffacher, and Tessa Towers—filed a lawsuit against Marisa Moseley and university officials. They’ve put a spotlight on the ongoing conversation about mental health in college athletics.

This story’s still unfolding. If you want to dig deeper, you can check out the full article on CBS Sports.