InIn recent years, perceptions of mental health in women’s soccer have gained momentum, and with this, there is a sense of increased institutional support.
Famous players like Sydney Leroux and Bethany Balcer have left the game citing mental health struggles and are determined by waves of understanding rather than punishment.
The tallest and shortest soccer player in modern history
The National Women’s Football League (NWSL) allows paid mental health leave and demonstrates progressive changes in the way athletes handle wellness. But for Alex Morgan, the reality has not necessarily been so supportive.
Morgan recently shared with ESPN that when he once asked for leave from the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) after giving birth to a daughter, the response was exclusion rather than compassion. She had missed camp for her mental health and demanded that she adapt to her new motherhood. result? She was not invited to set up the national team for six or seven months.
“It didn’t exist a few years ago,” Morgan said, referring to the now established policy that allows players to prioritize their happiness without putting their careers at risk. Her story highlights the harsh contrast between the treatment of athletes back then and now.
Turning points of accountability and care
Morgan’s experience sheds light on the lack of space due to the vulnerability of elite sports a while back. Players were expected to push pain, stress and life changes, even giving birth without slowing down. There was no clear pathway for athletes to retreat without facing career outcomes.
Today, it is changing. NWSL players are currently supported by taking time off for mental health, and Morgan believes this change is essential. She emphasizes that whether someone is in their second or 15th year, breaks are a normal and necessary part of a healthy career.
“I feel like players are insisting on being the driving force behind this league,” Morgan shared, emphasizing the importance of athletes prioritizing themselves without fear of retaliation.
Beyond mental health, Morgan is also driving wider reforms, including family leave protection, financial education and an athlete-focused support system. All of these are part of the bigger mission of creating a more humane and sustainable future in women’s soccer.
Her story isn’t just about her coming home, but also about the next generation of athletes being able to speak out, take care of themselves and return to the game more strongly than ever before.
