Former Cal Softball Player Sues UC Berkeley, Ex-Coach Over 2023 Sexual Misconduct Allegations
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 4
Former Cal Softball Player Sues UC Berkeley, Ex-Coach Over 2023 Sexual Misconduct Allegations
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 4
Summary
An Aug. 24 lawsuit in Alameda County says a former Cal softball player was pressured into a sexual relationship by then-head coach Chelsea Spencer and had her playing time threatened when she pulled away.
The complaint says the alleged conduct began in fall 2023 after the player transferred to Cal, with daily calls and texts, romantic comments, cash gifts and later reduced opportunities when she stopped responding.
UC Berkeley is also accused of failing to act after athletic department staff learned of the alleged relationship and of letting Spencer remain in charge for months before she resigned in June 2025.
A later university investigation, according to the suit, found Spencer violated campus conflict-of-interest rules in consensual relationships and was not cooperative; Cal declined to comment Friday.
The player says the alleged misconduct and the university's negligence caused severe emotional distress and ended her college softball career early, and she is seeking damages and a jury trial.