Just Another Thing Men Athletes Don't Have To Think About
What’s going on: There are pre-game jitters, and then there’s this: getting not just one, but three positive pregnancy tests before a major game. Florida Gators basketball player Alexia Gassett captured that emotional moment in a video that’s now going viral. (So is her dad’s adorable reaction). Gassett went on to play — and score — in a rival game after learning the news. While many focus on the pregnancy reveal, others are highlighting a deeper message: Women athletes constantly navigate challenges their male counterparts will never experience. Periods. Pregnancy. Bloating. Breastfeeding. Leaking. They’re not just physical challenges — they’re mental, too.
Our take: Time and time again, women in sports show up and perform — all while navigating, well, life. Olympic athletes rush back to elite competition after giving birth. Gymnasts manage their periods on a global stage (while wearing a tiny leotard, no less). And basketball coaches squeeze in pump sessions during halftime to avoid leaking on national TV. These realities underscore the need for better infrastructure and support systems that recognize women athletes’ unique challenges — so they don’t have to push through the pain, sacrifice family planning, or hide normal bodily functions just to play the game.
