A former University of California, Berkeley softball player has filed a lawsuit accusing her ex-coach of pressuring her into a sexual relationship before ultimately retaliating against the student athlete for ending the affair.Co-defendant Chelsea Spencer resigned as head coach of the Cal Bears in June of 2025 citing a desire to focus on family and her mental health. She’d previously signed a contract extension with the Bay Area school just four months earlier.At the time of her departure, Cal director of athletics Jim Knowlton simply thanked Spencer in a statement ‘for all of her contributions’ and wished her ‘the best of luck in the future.’Now, a plaintiff identified as Jane Doe is accusing the coach of improper conduct in the years before her abrupt resignation. That complaint names Spencer and the school’s board of regents as defendants.According to the lawsuit, Spencer showered Doe with attention when she transferred to Cal in 2023, frequently texting her and complimenting the pitcher’s appearance.’You’re so beautiful,’ Spencer is accused of telling Doe in the lawsuit obtained by The Daily Mail. Another purported message from Spencer to Doe allegedly read: ‘Your girlfriend is so lucky.’ Chelsea Spencer guided the Cal Bears to three NCAA tournaments before stepping downThe player also claimed in the filing to have received gifts from Spencer, including a pair of $400 earphones and as much as $300 in cash.Throughout all of this, Spencer held ‘substantial power authority and influence’ over Doe, according to the lawsuit.The complaint alleges that Spencer became angry with Doe whenever her attention wasn’t reciprocated. In some cases, the lawsuit claims, Spencer would reduce Doe’s playing time if she wasn’t receiving enough attention from the student athlete.’Spencer progressively eroded the professional boundary between Head Coach and student-athlete and conditioned [the player] to understand that compliance brought rewards while resistance brought consequences,’ the filing continued.The relationship escalated from there, according to the complaint.’SPENCER’s conduct thereafter became increasingly physical on the UC Berkeley campus,’ read the filing. ‘She became unusually touchy with Plaintiff, engaged in prolonged embraces, and kissed Plaintiff on her face and neck. The physical contact progressively departed from the ordinary affection displayed between a coach and her players.’By the time SPENCER escalated the relationship into sexual contact, Plaintiff had already experienced the consequences of failing to give SPENCER the attention she wanted. Plaintiff had learned that ignoring SPENCER, responding too slowly, or attempting to distance herself could cause SPENCER to become angry, yell at Plaintiff, treat her differently, and reduce her playing opportunities.’In May of 2024, Spencer allegedly directed Doe to come to her hotel room, the lawsuit claimed. Upon her arrival, Doe alleged in her filing, she and Spencer engaged in sexual contact. And while that contact is described in the lawsuit as ‘mutual,’ the filing stressed it ‘occurred within the coach-athlete relationship SPENCER had cultivated…’Several more sexual encounters allegedly followed until May of 2025, but according to the filing, Doe only continued the relationship out of fear of losing playing time if she broke it off. Spencer is seen celebrating a win over rival Stanford at the end of the 2025 softball season’Plaintiff was therefore placed in an untenable position,’ read the complaint. ‘Refusing SPENCER meant risking diminished playing time, anger and punishment from the Head Coach who controlled whether Plaintiff played, disruption to the entire team, and the possibility that SPENCER would carry out her repeated threats of self-harm.’Compliance, by contrast, kept SPENCER calmer, made Plaintiff’s life within the softball program easier, reduced tension surrounding the team, and resulted in greater playing opportunities.’When Doe attempted to end the relationship in April of 2025, Spencer responded by scratching her from a start against Florida State, according to the filing.The lawsuit claims Spencer ‘repeatedly demanded secrecy’ from Doe in their relationship. Spencer is also accused in the filing of pressuring Doe to defend her when Cal players criticized the coach in private.But despite the attempts at secrecy, Cal coaches and department personnel were allegedly aware of the relationship and its consequences, according to the lawsuit.Despite this, the filing continued, ‘SPENCER continued serving as Head Coach, continued exercising authority over Plaintiff, continued controlling Plaintiff’s playing opportunities, and continued engaging in sexual contact with Plaintiff.’ Co-defendant Chelsea Spencer resigned as head coach of the Cal Bears in June of 2025 citing a desire to focus on family and her mental healthIn the end, Doe would leave the Bears in May of 2025, forgoing her senior year with the team.Berkeleyside, which first reported the lawsuit, received a ‘no comment’ from Spencer when the outlet contacted her over LinkedIn.Spencer does not currently have an attorney listed on the Alameda County Superior Court website. The Daily Mail’s attempts to contact her have been unsuccessful thus far.Citing school policy, UC Berkeley spokesperson Dan Mogulof declined to comment on any litigation involving the school when contacted by The Daily Mail. Doe is seeking damages from the UC system for allegedly failing to enforce its own policies, as well as negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress.’It was pretty open and obvious that something improper was going on here,’ Doe’s attorney Michael Carney told Berkeleyside.