Former Wisconsin center Tessa Towers accuses coach Marisa Moseley of mistreatment

Former Wisconsin center Tessa Towers came out with some scathing accusations against Badgers coach Marisa Moseley over the weekend. Towers alleged in a 14-slide Tik Tok post that Mosely severely mishandled the center’s mental health during her time with the program.

Towers included several examples of the alleged abuse she faced under Mosely, whom she claimed made her sign a release form for access to information from her therapy sessions. She said that Mosley threatened to kick her off the team if she did not comply.

“My coach and staff said if I were to say anything remotely close to thoughts of (suicide) or (death) to my therapist, I would be kicked off the team,” one of the slides read.

Towers went on to say in her post that the coach “made me get tested for autism,” stating that she had already been diagnosed with ADHD. Towers also alleged that Mosely gave her an ultimatum to admit herself to a mental hospital or be kicked off the team.

The 6-foot-5 center was just 17 years old at the time she arrived on campus in Madison. She wrote that during her freshman season she felt like “a lab rat” as the coaching staff would put her on new medications “every other week.”

Towers also alleged that she was forced to sign “agreements” that pertained only to her and that she was excluded from traveling with the team to the 2022 Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Towers played only three games during her freshman season and took a leave of absence to focus on a “personal matter,” which was reported by the university. She would go on to play in just one contest the following year before announcing her decision to transfer.

Towers currently plays for Ball State and has appeared in 12 games this season for the Cardinals. She is averaging 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds across 5.4 minutes per game.

Towers was one of five players to transfer from the Badgers program this offseason. Additionally, assistant coaches Scott Merritt, Carolina Doty and Kate Barnosky all left the program following the 2022-23 season.

Several former Badgers players commented on the TikTok post in support of Towers. Even current sophomore Tessa Grady, who has not been available since Jan. 7 according to injury reports, had something to say.

“Now this sounds familiar,” Grady wrote. “Glad we got out of that s— hole.”

Wisconsin did not respond to emails or calls sent out Monday, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Mosely is in her fourth season as head coach and has directed the Badgers to a 44-68 record so far with no NCAA Tournament appearances.