WNBA Player Reveals Sexual Assault Trauma Amid 'Cornell 7' Case

Las Vegas Aces guard Justine Pissott has revealed her own experience as a sexual assault survivor while publicly supporting the student suing Cornell University and seven former fraternity members over alleged gang rape. Pissott shared her story in a series of Instagram posts, expressing empathy for the accuser and criticizing the questioning of survivors.

"As someone who has been drugged and rap**, the Cornell 7 situation has been really hard for me to see. It hits a place in me that I don’t talk about often," Pissott wrote. She described the lasting impact of such trauma, including confusion, memory gaps, self-questioning, and self-blame.

Pissott stated that the experience of being assaulted does not end when the night of the incident concludes. She highlighted the difficulty survivors face when their actions and decisions are scrutinized by those who have not undergone similar trauma. "Unless you’ve been through it, you really don’t understand what trauma can do to a person. There is no ‘right’ way to respond to something that never should’ve happened to you in the first place," she added.

The WNBA player, who previously played college basketball at Tennessee and Vanderbilt, did not disclose details about when or where her alleged assault occurred. Her remarks came in the context of a lawsuit filed by an unidentified student against Cornell and members of the former Chi Phi fraternity. The lawsuit alleges the student was drugged and gang-raped in 2024.

Pissott's message also addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding the handling of the case. Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten recently announced the case would be presented to a grand jury. Van Houten had previously released a statement made by the accuser to campus police, a move criticized by some legal experts as unusual.

"My heart truly hurts for the survivor in the Cornell 7 situation," Pissott wrote. "I pray God covers her through all of this. I pray He protects her mind and her heart while something so painful and personal is being discussed by people who don’t even know her."

She continued, "I pray He gives her strength on the days where it feels like too much and reminds her that what was done to her will never define who she is. I don’t speak about my experience for sympathy. I speak about it because I know how lonely this kind of pain can feel. And if sharing even a small part of my story makes another survivor feel less alone, then it’s worth it."

Pissott concluded by addressing all survivors: "To her and every survivor carrying something similar, I see you. I’m praying for you. And I pray we continue creating a world where survivors feel safe enough to use their voice without being torn apart for how they survived."

The case has drawn criticism towards Cornell University and the district attorney's office for their initial handling of the allegations. Governor Kathy Hochul has called for an investigation into the university's response, stating, "There are also serious questions about Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response."

Mayor of Ithaca Robert Cantelmo announced efforts to ban city permits for Greek life and student activities at Cornell. The university has stated that some fraternity members faced disciplinary actions, including suspension and expulsion, following an internal investigation.