Former Harvard Women's Hockey Coach Sues University for Discrimination

Former Harvard women’s hockey coach Katey Stone has filed a sex discrimination lawsuit against the university, claiming she was forced to retire due to unfounded allegations of misconduct. The suit, filed on Tuesday, follows reports that Stone made insensitive remarks and oversaw a culture of hazing, which she denies. Allegations include a "naked skate" event and "Initiation Week" activities that pressured players into inappropriate behavior. Stone expressed her frustration at a news conference, stating that the impact of losing her career and reputation has been devastating. The lawsuit argues that Harvard has perpetuated a double standard, allowing male coaches to engage in similar misconduct without repercussions. Stone's complaint highlights that the university publicly acknowledged the absence of a hazing culture within the women's team, yet still forced her out. She contends that if she were male, the outcome would have been different, citing past incidents involving male teams that went unpunished. Additionally, Stone claims gender-based pay discrimination, alleging she was compensated significantly less than her male counterpart. She is seeking at least $5 million in damages and has pointed to a lack of transparency regarding pay scales between male and female coaches. Despite the controversy, many former players have come to Stone's defense, asserting that their experiences under her leadership were positive. The lawsuit underscores broader issues of gender inequality in sports, as Stone, the all-time winningest female coach in women's college hockey, seeks justice for what she describes as inequity and injustice at one of the nation’s elite universities.