The U.S. women’s national team is helping launch a campaign to spotlight mental health and for two of its biggest stars, the mission is deeply personal.
Last year, Sophia Smith and Naomi Girma lost their former Stanford teammate Katie Meyer, who died by suicide.
Smith, Girma, Sofia Huerta and several other USWNT players have collaborated with Fox Sports and the nonprofit Common Goal to launch a new mental health initiative.
On Tuesday, Girma wrote a tribute to Meyer in The Players Tribune, saying the goalkeeper was “the truest friend I ever had. The most unapologetic, positive, caring person in the world.”
On the mental health campaign, Girma added: “We know how important it is to destigmatize the conversation around mental health, especially for the millions of young people around the country who will be watching this World Cup, so Fox Sports will be dedicating one percent of its broadcast coverage to spotlighting the importance of mental health across all its platforms.”
In a press release, Fox Sports said that one percent of all its World Cup coverage through 2026 would focus on mental health, including a three-part feature series and multiple PSAs.
it’s okay to struggle. it’s okay to not be okay and it’s okay to talk about it. vulnerability is so important.
We are supporting ourselves, and our communities with the help of @commongoalorg. Reach out, speak up. pic.twitter.com/dT0jgxm9tk
— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) July 18, 2023
Smith also spoke about Meyer and the Common Goal initiative during a press conference on Wednesday, two days before the USWNT kicks off the 2023 World Cup against Vietnam.
“Anytime I talk about Katie, it’s obviously emotional, and then just with everything coming out today, it kind of brings all those feelings back to the surface,” Smith said. “But I feel like I’m in a place where I can talk about it and talk about Katie in a really positive light, and it brings me more happiness.
“But obviously, yeah, anytime it’s all over social media, it’s tough to see, and it kind of just reminds you. But I think what we put out and The Players Tribune by Naomi, it was really cool and really good to read, and everything that we do is now for Katie, so it means a lot.”
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