WNBA rookie Lauren Betts delivered an emotional acceptance speech at the ESPYs on Wednesday night, using her platform to advocate for mental health awareness. Betts, a six-foot-seven center for the Washington Mystics, received the award for Best College Athlete in Women's Sports at the ceremony held at the David H. Koch Theater in New York.
Betts, who won the national championship with UCLA in April before being selected fourth overall in the WNBA Draft, spoke candidly about her own mental health struggles during her college career. "I feel like I have the opportunity with this platform that I have to speak on something that is really important to me," she stated during her speech.
She emphasized that mental health is intrinsically linked to success. "Your mental health is not separate from your success. It's the foundation of everything that you do," Betts said. "The strongest people aren't the ones who never struggle. They're the ones who have the courage to let someone walk through their struggle with them."
The athlete has been open about her battle with clinical depression, which at one point led her to step away from basketball. In an essay published earlier this year, Betts described a period of intense anxiety that began at the end of her freshman year at UCLA, describing a feeling of emotional "numbness" that evolved into overwhelming anxiety.
Betts recounted a crisis point where she felt her mental state had become "too dangerous to ignore," prompting her to check into a UCLA hospital. Due to a lack of available beds, she spent a night in a hallway, an experience she described as harrowing and filled with shame. She urged others experiencing mental health difficulties to seek help, calling it the "best option" for those feeling overwhelmed.
Her speech resonated with viewers, many of whom praised Betts on social media for her openness and advocacy. Comments highlighted the importance of mental health conversations, noting that "True strength isn't just winning trophies it's having the courage to speak openly about mental health."
Betts's advocacy extends beyond her ESPYs speech, as she continues to use her platform to destigmatize mental health issues, particularly within the sports community. Her willingness to share her personal journey offers support and encouragement to others facing similar challenges.