A former Cal softball player is suing the University of California and former Bears coach Chelsea Spencer, alleging that Spencer coerced her into a sexual relationship and then retaliated big time when the player tried to end things. This isn’t just a claim, folks. The lawsuit, filed anonymously as Jane Doe in Alameda County Superior Court last week, says the school *didn’t* remove Spencer, even after these inappropriate relationship issues were raised to higher-ups. Yikes.
The “Coach-Athlete Relationship” Allegations
So, what went down? The lawsuit details a wild ride. The player, a transfer, came to Berkeley in Fall 2023. Immediately, Spencer allegedly started crossing lines, talking “outside the ordinary confines of a coach-athlete relationship” as soon as the 2023-24 school year kicked off. We’re talking personal details, emotional struggles, and heavy romantic attention. Spencer allegedly told the player she was “so beautiful” and that “your girlfriend is so lucky.” Seriously? The suit also claims Spencer sent gifts, like direct cash and AirPods.
But here’s where it gets darker: If the player didn’t respond, the lawsuit alleges Spencer would get angry, dish out negative treatment, and even hit her where it hurts most for an athlete: “reduced or withheld Plaintiff’s playing opportunities.” Want more time on the field? The attention Spencer sought allegedly had to be given. Once that power dynamic and dependency was locked in, the lawsuit alleges Spencer then “escalated the relationship into sexual contact.” This alleged sexual relationship kicked off on a 2024 road trip and went on for a whole year. The complaint doesn’t shy away from detailing multiple sexual encounters. The lawsuit explicitly states that while “The sexual contact was mutual in physical form,” it happened “within the coach-athlete relationship SPENCER had cultivated and the pattern of rewards and consequences Plaintiff had already experienced.” That’s a critical distinction right there, isn’t it? Secrecy was also a strict requirement.
Cal Allegedly Knew, But Did Nothing
The situation apparently blew up before a road game at Florida State in April 2025. The player reportedly told Spencer she was “never talking to you again.” What happened next? Spencer allegedly pulled her from a planned pitching appearance that day. But the most damning part might be this: The lawsuit claims several Cal officials knew about this alleged relationship way back in December 2023. And other players on the team even raised concerns to senior Cal Athletics officials, including associate athletics director Gordon Bayne, by February 2025.
Despite all this, Spencer was never removed from her coaching role. The lawsuit further alleges that the player herself was eventually removed from the team after Spencer met with school officials. That move effectively ended her softball career and pushed her to leave campus entirely, finishing her degree online. When Berkeleyside first reported on the lawsuit and contacted Spencer via LinkedIn, she reportedly said she was “not aware of the lawsuit” and that claims “will be addressed in the appropriate legal processes.” Then, after the complaint was sent to her, Spencer apparently stopped replying and deleted her account. What a mess. This whole situation is going to be scrutinized heavily in Alameda County Superior Court, and it’s gonna be a long road for everyone involved.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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