A federal lawsuit alleges a 16-year-old athlete was sexually assaulted during Nike’s Elite Program in Beaverton, Oregon. The complaint also accuses Nike and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation of failing to provide adequate supervision and mishandling the athlete’s report.
A federal lawsuit against Nike and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation (NSAF) is raising serious questions about athlete safety and adult supervision at an elite high school track and field program.
Filed in federal court in Oregon in September 2026, the lawsuit was brought by the family of a 16-year-old athlete who alleges she was raped at a hotel during the Nike Elite Program over the Fourth of July weekend. The complaint alleges the organizations failed to adequately protect participants and improperly responded after the teenager reported the incident. (KGW News, court docket)
What the Lawsuit Alleges
According to the complaint, the alleged assault occurred July 5, 2026, while athletes were staying at a hotel near Nike’s headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.
The lawsuit alleges that another teenage participant assaulted the athlete after she rejected his advances. It also questions the level of adult supervision provided during the program, which brought together high school athletes for elite track and field training.
The family further alleges that, following the incident, program personnel pressured the teenager to characterize the encounter as consensual and discouraged the family from contacting law enforcement.
These allegations have not been proven in court. The civil lawsuit does not establish criminal guilt on the part of the other participant or legal liability on the part of Nike or NSAF.
Nike and NSAF Respond to the Allegations
Nike declined to comment on the case, citing pending litigation.
NSAF CEO Josh Rowe disputed the account presented in the complaint and said the organization would address the allegations through the legal process.
The lawsuit places the organizations’ alleged supervision practices and response to the reported assault at the center of the dispute. The case will examine the claims made by the family alongside the defendants’ responses.
Criminal Investigation and Civil Case
The family reportedly contacted the Beaverton Police Department after learning of the alleged assault. Reports have also stated that criminal charges are pending against the accused participant; however, the status of any criminal proceedings should be confirmed through official law enforcement or court records.
The civil case against Nike and NSAF is separate from any potential criminal proceeding involving the other participant. The civil litigation concerns the organizations’ alleged conduct and potential responsibility for the circumstances described in the complaint.
Questions About Protecting Young Athletes
The allegations raise broader questions about safeguarding minors at overnight sports programs, including adult supervision, reporting procedures, parental notification and how organizations respond when a young athlete reports sexual violence.
For Nike, a major force in sports apparel and athlete development, the lawsuit also places its youth-program safety practices under scrutiny.
As the case moves through the legal process, the allegations remain contested. No determination of liability has been made, and the organizations’ responses will be part of the proceedings.
Court records: Doe et al. v. Nike, Inc. et al. — U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon
Editor’s note: The allegations described above come from a civil complaint and published reporting. They have not been established as findings of fact by a court.
