Nearly half of female college athletes are dealing with overwhelming anxiety right now.
Let that sink in. Not “some.” Not “a few.” 48%.
And 28% are struggling with depression. These aren’t just statistics — these are your teammates. Your training partners. Maybe you.
For too long, the research on athlete mental health barely included women who look like many of us. Most studies before 2021 focused primarily on white athletes. The experiences of Black female athletes, and honestly, the real, lived experiences of all female athletes navigating pressure, identity, and faith, were missing from the conversation.
That’s changing. I’ve been in the research, and what’s coming out of it is something a lot of us already knew in our gut:
Your faith is not a backup plan. It’s your strategy.
Studies show that a student-athlete’s relationship with God has meaningful, measurable connections to their ability to manage anxiety and depression. But here’s the gap: almost no athletic programs offer anything structured around this. A chapel service once a semester is not a program. A passing mention of prayer in a wellness meeting is not support.
That’s exactly why I built The Girls Anthem Locker Room — a 6-week faith-intensive designed specifically for athletes who are ready to stop grinding alone and start building from the inside out.
Over the next few weeks, I’m breaking down what the research actually says — about the pressure you’re under, the barriers in your way, and why faith belongs at the center of your mental health strategy.
And if you’re already ready to go? Enrollment for the August cohort is now open. You can register below. Spots are limited. This is where grit meets grace…
🎙️ ALSO — The Locker Room Podcast drops July 3rd on all platforms. The trailer is live now. Go find us wherever you listen and hit subscribe so you don’t miss episode one.
Based on original research by Mya K. Douglas, Liberty University, 2026.