School pride is often and will always be a fundamental aspect when speaking about college sports. Typically, when we picture collegiate sports, our minds drift to rivalries, chants and traditions that resemble the school like Penn State’s “We Are” or Iowa’s Hawkeye Wave.
With this context in mind, the expectations of athletes, especially female athletes, are often more influenced by the public’s desire for the team to succeed rather than internal pressure.
Usually with high-tier ranked schools, B1G, B12, MAC, SEC, etc., we tend to ignore the individuals that make up those teams, and chant and demand and roar for success.
Our need to resemble universities comes at the cost of barking at athletes to achieve success both academically and athletically.
Grace Shirley, who plays for Wisconsin’s women’s ice hockey team, recently spoke to the NCAA in an interview regarding women’s mental health. The two-time champion recounted her experiences in Wisconsin and the impact of B10 hockey on her well-being.
“For many student-athletes, attempting to find a healthy balance between the academic, athletic and social domains of life can be difficult. During my time in college, utilizing the resources available and working with sports psychologists has had such a positive impact, not only on my athletic performance but also on my overall levels of happiness and well-being,” she said.
“Obviously it’s important to be performing well, but there are so many aspects of life that are just as important to foster and take care of as well,” Shirley added. “I’m really grateful for all those resources that college hockey has provided me.”
Using recent NCAA statistics, 44% of women in their respective sports often feel overwhelmed constantly or every day, which unfortunately just adds to their own self-expectations.
Identity vs. Pressure
When we elevate our attention to elite conferences, the pressure to perform and represent the university increases drastically. It’s not rare for athletes to make mistakes, like losing their balance or missing the puck, but when it impacts the game in a major way, people, aka the athletes, tend to kick themselves and disregard their confidence depending on their mindset.
True athletic competition thrives when driven by an internal motivation to evolve and embrace the challenge itself, transforming obstacles into sources of inspiration. However, when accomplishment becomes dependent on external recognition or performance statistics, harmful tension emerges, leaving competitors mentally drained and emotionally depleted.
This dynamic becomes especially pronounced within smaller athletic organizations operating with limited public attention and close-knit social structures. Facing constraints in both resources and institutional backing, team members typically bear the burden of organizational expectations without adequate support, causing the boundary between genuine enthusiasm and harmful stress to blur until recovery appears to contradict their progressing issues
You’ve heard of media literacy, but there’s also mental health literacy. This concept refers to knowledge, beliefs and skills about mental health disorders that help identify, manage or prevent them. The idea is to learn how to manage mental disorders, challenge stigma, assist others and facilitate help-seeking behaviors.
I think of this concept for those who are reluctant to seek help when a detrimental mindset is already set in stone, and slowly gnaws at the ability to make that positive mindset that a coach or a counselor may be trying to bloom within an athlete.
If you refer back to how people typically depict athletes as super tough, incredibly skilled characters, where athletes’ shaky idea of communicating their mental health comes from is clear
It’s common in all types of athletes to typically shy away from telling the public or anybody about what’s going on in their mind, perceiving the idea as weak. Coaches have always had a massive impact on an athlete’s experience within a team or sport, building a culture in the organization with staff and players alike (when the two interact, that is).
Decades ago, the idea of an athlete being weak was seen as something the team didn’t need, so it could have declined their playing time and their judgment of how truly good they are.
Now, it’s more common to hire coaches that don’t diminish their athletes, thankfully. As I said, coaches can build and change a team’s culture. Now, if they built/recover a culture that prioritizes mental wellness, it starts with fostering open and honest communication.
This could have such a wonderful effect on the team and bring more light to the shining efforts of the behind-the-scenes staff of organizations that help athletes with their thinking.
Pete DeBoer, an experienced NHL coach who was behind Team Canada’s bench in the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina, once spoke of this idea in an IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) interview.
“It’s a subject I’m glad is out in the open, as there have been many young men and women who have had the courage to talk about mental health,” he said. “When I was coming up as a player and even as a coach, it was a taboo, something that was considered a weakness. Now the attitude has almost flipped and talking about mental health is considered a strength.”
The Cost of Passion
Teams might unwittingly form in-group/out-group barriers when they develop shared norms and identities. If specific behaviors, for example, “being tough” or not showing weakness, are valued, athletes who do not meet these standards may be excluded. Cliques, hierarchies or informal “friend groups” can make others feel left out.
Coincidentally, there’s actually a coined term for this, “The Loneliest Arena” effect. This is simply a phrase that stuck around while researchers studied how sports could be a pathway to connection but also deepen extreme competitiveness, the expectation of toughness or thick skin in collegiate athleticism.
Athletes continuously deal with environmental factors that impact their competitive success, such as major life events, strong competition, media attention, poor officiating calls, unfavorable weather or times when their performance declines.
When facing these difficulties, their self-confidence in their abilities become essential, empowering them to control their emotional responses and handle setbacks with determination rather than frustration.
The skill of managing emotions effectively, whether maintaining poise during crucial moments or recovering mentally from a disappointing result becomes a critical tool that enables athletes to preserve their concentration and achieve peak performance despite the various pressures surrounding them.
I leave this paragraph with the idea of opening up the concept of mental health literacy to more athletes, as even now, in 2026, not many speak of their issues despite the good it would do for those who share similar emotions.
This doesn’t fall on the athletes alone, though, words or speeches from organization officials and other behind-the-scenes members would help in addition. This is where mental health literacy would be most effective, as my last paragraph details exactly why we need it.
Media attention, too, is a double-edged sword: it can magnify expectations and distort authenticity. It highlights internal conflict within teams, such as the fiasco that was the Vancouver Canucks’ issue between a handful of players during the 2024-2025 NHL season, shapes perceptions of players and has the ability to catch anything negative and deeply criticize it.
Sure, humans are curious creatures, especially within social settings. We’ve always wanted to know the little interesting piece of drama, but it also comes at the cost of insulting players via their performance, appearance, personal lives, etc. It also shines a light on stories that inspire new generations to step onto the field with pride.
While not shown often enough, the media also showcases athletes’ achievements and crafts inspiring role models. It shapes how people view fitness, training and health. This influence sparks greater interest in sports, encourages more people to get active and helps spread awareness of the many rewards of physical activity. Media representation is something becoming more of a valued topic, especially within sports.
Shine a light and see what sparkles
In women’s sports, competition feels like more than just a game. This foundation is built on years of female athletes proving themselves in a battle against physical, social and even beauty expectations. There’s a shared connection between two teams who compete, both knowing the history of everything leading up to that point: to be seen for much more than just a woman and to win.
Yes, hockey players must wear padding, but their confidence serves as the true protection, enabling them to maintain their balance on the ice when the spotlight shines too brightly into their performance and being.
This solidarity fuels their performance and inspires the next generation of athletes to break barriers and redefine what strength means. Each game becomes a testament to resilience, showcasing the power of women supporting one another despite their individual pursuit of success.
As they push through challenges and celebrate victories together, the bonds formed on the ice extend beyond the rink, creating a lasting impact in their communities. These athletes become role models, demonstrating that unity and determination can pave the way for future successes in sports and beyond.
There was a special impact when the women on Team USA’s ice hockey team won gold at the past Winter Olympics and how it shone an eternal light on the PWHL. While the excitement from the Olympics died down a while ago, many women and young girls continue to admire & support the PWHL and its remarkable run to popularity. Its attendance has grown 64% over the last three seasons.
Ever since 2023, the PWHL has gotten such talent within its organization. Taylor Fox, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight, Maddie Rooney and so many others.Not even the spectacular staff behind the teams. Women’s hockey continues to shape mental health by fostering a unique environment where athletes build resilience, cultivate deep confidence and develop a strong performance identity grounded in teamwork and perseverance.
When a young girl sees what’s possible now, there’s a possibility that was once covered and celebrates the dedication of thousands of girls lacing up their skates in rinks across the country. Many female athletes have spoken about their previous experience with the uncertainty of continuing their sport after college or if it was worth it.
What I’m trying to get at here is that it’s remarkable what the PWHL and other successful women’s hockey leagues have been able to do and the role models that have emerged from them continue to shine on the ice despite the difficulties many have faced.
At its core, rivalries and contests in sports highlight the dedicated athletes who endure pressure and find fulfillment. Women’s hockey exemplifies that true strength lies not just in winning, but in competition, support and resilience in the face of adversity. As the next generation advances, they uphold the sport’s legacy and community spirit, reflecting the essence of humanity at the heart of the game.
