Six former women’s basketball players from the University of Pittsburgh have filed individual civil lawsuits against the university and head coach Tory Verdi, alleging Title IX violations and a pattern of emotional, psychological, and physical abuse. The lawsuits were filed Feb. 6 in U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania and are represented by the same attorney, Keenan Holmes.

According to the complaints, the former players allege Verdi created a “hostile, discriminatory, and retaliatory environment,” citing verbal abuse, psychological manipulation, retaliation, and racially discriminatory treatment. The lawsuits claim Pitt administrators were made aware of the concerns, including senior athletic and compliance officials, but failed to take action. Pitt issued a statement to USA Today Sports denying the allegations and stating the university will “vigorously defend” against the claims.

The suits outline several specific incidents, including alleged inappropriate comments made to players following practices and games, culturally insensitive remarks toward foreign-born players, retaliation following compliance complaints, denial of medical accommodations, and disparate treatment of players of color. Several plaintiffs say they sought mental health treatment following their time in the program.

Verdi is in his third season at Pitt, where the Panthers are currently 8-17 overall and riding an eight-game losing streak. He previously served as head coach at UMass and Eastern Michigan, winning over 200 games combined, and signed a six-year contract with Pitt upon his hiring in 2023. The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages and a declaration that Pitt violated Title IX.