Ex-Cal softball player sues university, alleges coach pressured her into sexual relationship

A former University of California softball player has filed a lawsuit against the university and former head softball coach Chelsea Spencer, alleging Spencer pressured her into a sexual relationship and reduced her playing time if she did not continue the relationship. The unidentified player's complaint, filed in Alameda County Superior Court on Aug. 24 and obtained by USA TODAY Sports, says Cal failed to protect her from Spencer and allowed the coach to remain in her position months after athletic department staff learned of the alleged inappropriate relationship. Spencer resigned as head coach in June 2025, four months after she signed a three-year contract extension. According to the lawsuit, Cal investigated and found Spencer had violated campus policy on conflicts of interest in consensual relationships. It is not clear when the investigation took place, but the lawsuit said Spencer declined to participate. A spokesperson for Cal declined to comment on the lawsuit or the university's investigation of Spencer in an email to USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Attorney Gizem Gures, whose law firm Slater Slater Schulman is representing the former softball player, wrote in a statement to USA TODAY Sports, "Berkeley proudly holds itself out as the No. 1 public university in the world. That reputation comes with a responsibility to protect its students. As a Cal alum, it is deeply disappointing to see what our client experienced and how the University responded after its own investigation substantiated the conduct. Our client deserved better. Berkeley's students deserve better. The University needs to do better." According to the complaint, Spencer's advances toward the former player began in the fall of 2023 after the player transferred to Cal to join the softball team. Spencer called and texted the player every day and the communications became romantic, with the coach telling the player, "you're so beautiful" and "your girlfriend is so lucky." Spencer also confided in the player about her personal life and gave the player cash gifts, according to the lawsuit. When the player did not answer Spencer's messages, Spencer got angry and punished her by reducing her playing time, the lawsuit alleges. "When Plaintiff did not provide Spencer the attention she demanded, Spencer yelled at Plaintiff, treated her differently, and reduced or withheld Plaintiff's playing opportunities," the complaint states. "Plaintiff thus began to recognize, even before the relationship became sexual, that Spencer's personal demands and Spencer's authority as Head Coach were intertwined." The relationship became sexual in May 2024 when Spencer summoned the player to her hotel room during a softball team trip for a road game. The sexual encounters continued for about a year, according to the complaint. Spencer allegedly told the player to hide the relationship from others and even looked at the player's phone to make sure messages between them were deleted. When the player attempted to end the relationship, Spencer allegedly threatened to die by suicide and once told the player, "You're not pitching." Although the player initially consented to the alleged sexual activity, the lawsuit acknowledges the power imbalance at play. "At all relevant times, Spencer occupied a position of substantial authority, power, and trust over Plaintiff as Plaintiff’s Head Coach and possessed unilateral control over Plaintiff's playing opportunities," the complaint states. The player also alleges multiple coaches on the softball team, including Spencer's wife at the time, were aware of the relationship. The complaint states in February 2025, several softball players reported concerns about Spencer's relationship with the player to Cal associate athletics director Gordon Bayne. In May 2025, Spencer spoke to Bayne about the relationship and after that, the player was removed from the softball team. She completed her final year at Cal online, which the university paid for. Bayne remains employed at Cal. A university spokesman did not answer USA TODAY Sports' question about why Spencer was allowed to continue coaching after Bayne allegedly received initial reports about her relationship with the player. When Spencer resigned on June 23, 2025, she posted on X that she made the decision to "prioritize my mental health and my family." In a Cal news release announcing her departure, then-athletic director Jim Knowlton said, "We thank Chelsea for all of her contributions to Cal and wish her the best of luck for the future." The former player says she suffered extreme emotional distress and was forced to prematurely end her collegiate softball career as a result of Spencer's actions and the university's negligence. She is seeking a jury trial as well as personal injuries and damages. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-Cal softball player sues university, alleges coach pressured her into sexual relationship