Aces guard Justine Pissott expressed her support for the student who accused seven fraternity members from Cornell University of rape. In her message, she also revealed that she had been a victim of sexual assault herself.
Pissott shared a series of comments on her Instagram Story, supporting the unnamed woman who is suing Cornell and the former Chi Pi fraternity members, alleging that she was drugged and gang-raped in 2024.
The rookie WNBA player, who previously played college basketball at Tennessee and Vanderbilt, mentioned that her message was personal but important for her to share.
“As someone who has been drugged and raped, the Cornell 7 situation has been really hard for me to see. It touches a sensitive part of me that I don’t often discuss,” Pissott wrote. “When you experience something like this, it doesn’t just disappear when the night ends. You carry it with you: the confusion, the fragments you can’t remember, questioning yourself, and blaming yourself. It’s tough to understand how someone could exploit you when you were so vulnerable.”
She continued, noting the skepticism survivors often face. “People often ask why survivors didn’t speak up sooner or why they behaved a certain way afterward. But unless you’ve been through it, you may not truly grasp the impact of trauma. There’s no ‘right’ way to react to something that should never have happened.”
Originally from Toms River, N.J., Pissott didn’t provide details about her own experience, including when it took place.
The latter part of her message addressed the situation involving the allegations made by the former Ivy League student, which have prompted Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten to reopen the case for grand jury review.
“My heart really aches for the survivor in the Cornell 7 case,” Pissott stated. “I pray that God supports her throughout this ordeal. I hope He protects her heart and mind during such painful discussions being made by those who don’t even know her. I pray that He gives her strength on the tough days and reminds her that what happened does not define who she is. I don’t share my story for sympathy; I do it to connect with others who may feel isolated in their pain. If sharing even a little of my story helps another survivor feel less alone, then it’s worth it.”
“To her and every survivor dealing with something like this, I see you. I’m thinking of you. And I hope we can keep building a world where survivors feel safe to speak out without fear of being judged.”
The handling of this case has led to public outcry directed at both Cornell and Van Houten, who has stood by his initial decision not to further pursue the allegations after the victim first reported to Cornell Police in 2024.
Van Houten released the six-page statement made by the “Jane Doe” accuser to campus police, shortly after the incident, a move several experienced prosecutors have described as highly unconventional.
“He appears to be trying to manage a public relations crisis,” former prosecutor Seth Zuckerman noted.
Cornell has defended its initial response and claimed that some fraternity members faced disciplinary action. The school has indicated that certain individuals were suspended or expelled following an internal investigation.
Thomas Giuffra, the attorney for the accuser, confirmed on Monday that two of the fraternity members were expelled.
Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo announced plans to prohibit the issuance of city permits for Greek life and student activities affiliated with the university. Additionally, Governor Kathy Hochul has called for an investigation into Cornell’s handling of the allegations.
“It takes immense bravery for any student to come forward after such an experience. No student should ever doubt whether the institutions meant to protect them will listen and take action,” Hochul stated on Tuesday. “There are significant concerns regarding Cornell’s campus culture and its systems for prevention, reporting, and response.”
