Bethany Balcer, a fan favorite on the Seattle Reign and VIS Mentor, was traded to Racing Louisville FC on August 19, in exchange for Jaelin Howell and $50,000 in allocation money. The trade had Balcer and Seattle fans heartbroken. Balcer wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post what Seattle meant to her. “This place has transformed me and allowed me to grow in incredible ways. While the soccer was fun and rewarding, it's the people and places I'll miss the most. Memories will last a lifetime. Friendships that I'll carry for the rest of my life.”
This post was exactly what her fans had come to love and expect from Balcer: Open, honest, and vulnerable. “Sometimes change is good and it’s what’s necessary for growth so trying to look at it from that perspective,” Balcer told reporters about training with her new team. In her first game with her new team on Saturday, Balcer recorded an assist and made an impression on Racing Louisville FC fans. What might be more impressive than her skills on the pitch is her transparency about her mental health advocacy efforts.
Transparency About her Mental Health
Since her panic attack during the 2020 Challengers Cup, Balcer has believed in the importance of being open about mental health. “As an athlete with a platform, I want to be as transparent as possible,” she wrote on X. “For me not to use that would be inhibiting the reach I have to tell younger girls that what they are going through happens at every level of soccer, and they are not alone.” The vulnerability that Balcer strives to have is helping the future generation of athletes find their way through sport. Young girls see the challenges that a professional like Balcer deals with, bringing more VISibility to and normalizing these experiences.
Balcer wants to make sure her supporters know that the real Bethany is more than just an athlete. “We’re human beings too, and we struggle the same as everyone else. I’ve been learning that there is beauty and strength in identifying areas of our lives where we don’t have it all together, because more often than not, someone is experiencing the same type of feeling.” Balcer added.
“I’ve been learning that there is beauty and strength in identifying areas of our lives where we don’t have it all together, because more often than not, someone is experiencing the same type of feeling.”
BB8 – “Bring Your Best”
To have an outlet where Balcer could share her thoughts and struggles, she created her own brand, BB8. “BB8, ‘Bring Your Best’ is now a brand to help share what I'm most passionate about,” Balcer announced on Instagram. Using BB8, Balcer has been highlighting what her life looks like beyond the 90 minutes that people get to see of her on the pitch. Through these posts, Balcer hopes to “bridge the gap between mental health and athletics and provide shared vulnerability to create community.”
“Beyond the 90” Posts
After every game, Balcer posts a “Beyond the 90” reflection: Regardless if the game went well, Balcer writes her honest thoughts and shares them with her followers. During a losing streak, she wrote on Instagram, “How do you deal with losses? How do you deal with failure? Tying your self-worth to results is easy to do. Reminding myself that victories do not equal value is something I will have to tell myself until the day I die.” Through her openness, Balcer builds a stronger connection between herself and her fans, and spreads awareness about mental health in athletes. And young girls who are dealing with similar struggles get to see that they are not alone.
Balcer's Mental Health Advice
Along with her “Beyond the 90” posts, Balcer is pursuing a counseling degree, inspired by her passion for mental health. As she has become more experienced throughout her degree, Balcer began producing videos and responding to fan questions about mental health. Through the videos and questions, Balcer shares thoughtful and detailed content to help her supporters. She has covered numerous topics such as comparison, dealing with burnout, self doubt, anxiety, and asking for help.
“Speak to yourself kindly. Look in the mirror and give yourself positive affirmations. When you mess up, notice the way you talk to yourself. Dive into why you think you're unlovable. Getting to the root of the issue helps alleviate the problem,” Balcer said when she was asked for advice on building self love and worth. Through her work, Balcer continues to normalize and help her fans deal with their mental health.
Balcers' vulnerable and honest mentality is helping to destigmatize mental health in athletes. She is relatable and her suggestions are useful for any athlete facing challenges. Balcer reminds us that it’s okay to not be okay, and struggling is part of being human.
