Ohio State University

In March 2022, Ohio State Football star Harry Miller announced that he was stepping away from the game to prioritize his mental wellness. Since then, the college senior has sparked a necessary conversation about mental health in sports, and encouraged countless others on their journeys towards healing.

Ole Miss Women’s Basketball

One of the stars of this year’s March Madness, Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin understands that a championship mindset starts with being mentally well. After her team shocked the world by upsetting #1-ranked Stanford in the NCAAW Championship, Coach Yo described the ways she has chosen to evolve, to help her student-athletes on their paths to mental wellness.

Seattle Mariners

Losing his mother and the World Series in a one month span challenged Kolten Wong’s mental health in a new way. There’s nothing easy about navigating that pain, both on or off the baseball field, but the Seattle Mariners star is daring to try, day by day. He shares the breathwork exercises he practices to stay present.

Chicago Red Stars

As one of the pioneers of the top women’s soccer league in the U.S., Cari Roccaro is accustomed to being a leader. It’s no surprise that the Chicago Red Stars midfielder was a catalyst for the league’s new mental health policy, helping secure paid mental health leave for all players.

USWNT/NWSL Forward (OL Reign)

As one of the leading athlete activists in the modern era, Megan Rapinoe has added mental wellness to her long list of causes. The two-time World Cup champion and National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) star is using her platform to push for more access to life-saving resources, particularly for marginalized groups. For Rapinoe, ending the stigma around mental health is intrinsically linked to giving people the tools to heal.

NFL Defensive Tackle (New York Jets)

After losing his sister to suicide in 2018, Solomon Thomas turned his pain into purpose. The No.3 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft is one of the league’s most prominent mental health advocates, working to normalize healing in the locker room and beyond. In 2021, Solomon launched The Defensive Line, a foundation dedicated to ending the epidemic of youth suicide, especially for young people of color.

WNBA Guard (Connecticut Sun)

When you watch Courtney Williams with a basketball in her hands, it’s difficult to miss her smile; the sheer joy she plays with every game. This happiness was hard-fought, harnessed through a mental health journey full of trials and triumphs. One of the WNBA’s premier bucket-getters reveals the tools she uses to stay mentally well, and offers her encouragement to anyone navigating their journey to wellness.

Professional Bull Riders (#9 Rank)

As one of the top professional bull riders in the world, Eli Vastbinder has had a whirlwind year. From suffering broken ribs and a separated shoulder, to the premature birth of his twin girls, the reigning PBR Rookie of the Year experienced mental health challenges like never before. Getting back to “normal” took him down a path that has transformed him into a mental health advocate with an incredible story of resilience.