Western Oregon University agrees to $2.25M settlement with former women's basketball players who alleged abuse

MONMOUTH, Oregon — Nine student-athletes who sued Western Oregon University for being kicked off the women's basketball team after speaking out against verbal and physical abuse by the coaches have reached a settlement in the case. The university agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle the claims brought by the nine former members of WOU's women's basketball team, according to the women's attorneys. Each plaintiff will receive between $200,000 and $325,000, said attorneys Jason Kafoury and Shenoa Payne. The players alleged that during the 2023-2024 season, head coach Jessica Peatross and assistant coach Dementrus "DJ" Marlow would verbally, mentally and physically abuse them, including conducting “brutal” conditioning sessions as punishments, forcing them to play through serious injuries, and with Peatross even allegedly hitting a former player. Rather than protecting them, the University took action to silence them.

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