Two former Cal Poly Humboldt cross country student-athletes have issued complaints about their former head coach, Jamey Harris, accusing Harris of inappropriate behaviors which led to serious mental health issues for his players and eventually the players leaving the program.

The two Humboldt players who spoke with the Times-Standard, Melissa Pinter and Mariska Kessler, both left the program following what they deemed negative experiences with Harris and the Humboldt Athletics department. The complaints include being encouraged to compete while injured, painful massages from a lacrosse ball that was administered by Harris himself, discussing the sex lives of student-athletes, and emotional abuse.

Kessler spent the 2022-2024 seasons with the ‘Jacks while Pinter was a part of the 2021 and 2022 Humboldt cross country teams before transferring to Chico State in 2023. Both were initially thrilled to join the ‘Jacks program, with Kessler thrilled to fulfill her collegiate dream while Pinter received a scholarship that made her athletic and scholastic goals accessible. But after getting to Humboldt, both players realized the experience was not exactly what they had imagined.

“I have first-handedly witnessed Jamey repeatedly emotionally and physically damage the runners of the Humboldt women’s cross country team,” Kessler said. “I regret recruiting girls into this team and have a sense of guilt for bringing them into this environment. I thought if I was a strong enough leader, I could shield them from the issues the team has had in the past, but that was extremely naive.”

The Times-Standard reached out to Cal Poly Humboldt Athletics with questions for Harris and Nick Pettit, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, but was told that the university “cannot comment on personnel matters regarding the cross country program.”

Cal Poly Humboldt did provide the following statement via Drew Gwerder, a spokesperson for Humboldt Athletics:

“These matters are handled confidentially, but the University is working to address concerns expressed by our student-athletes. Their health and well-being are fundamental to the Athletics program, and we’re committed to creating a safe and respectful environment. Our students also have space to provide feedback to administration regarding their experiences during the evaluation process. If we are made aware of situations of concern we engage appropriate university leadership to address potential issues to support our student-athletes.”

Kessler and another student-athlete did meet with Pettit and Amanda Nelson, Humboldt’s associate athletics director and senior woman administrator, to detail their experience with the cross country program. Nothing, Kessler said, to her knowledge, ever came of it. And Pinter and her father wrote a letter to Humboldt Athletics in February. There was no response, they said.

“Melissa tried to cope with the abuse from her coach without letting her family know what was happening to her,” Pinter’s father wrote in the letter. “I was aware that Melissa had been having injuries as well as other medical issues, but I didn’t know the root of most of her problems was Coach Harris. Sometimes she would phone me, crying … as a parent, it was heart-breaking. When I finally heard the details of his abusive physical and verbal treatment of my daughter, my heart fell into my stomach and I felt so guilty for being unaware and unable to help her in her time of need.”

The Times-Standard reached out to Harris directly about the allegations. He did not respond ahead of the Times-Standard publishing deadline.

Melissa Pinter’s story

Pinter was honored to join Cal Poly Humboldt’s program but she felt Harris used the scholarship she received against her, allegedly using it as leverage to coerce her into competing even if she was injured

“I paid too much money to have you here for you to not race,” Pinter claimed Harris told her.

“Coach Harris’s actions drove me to the brink of suicide. The emotional and physical abuse that I endured under his coaching left me feeling isolated, insignificant, and powerless over my own life. My financial dependence on the scholarship he provided left me vulnerable to his manipulation and exploitation,” Pinter said.

Pinter, who had a boyfriend on the team, said she suddenly saw her relationship become a topic of discussion for her coach during practices. As the season prolonged, Pinter struggled with mental health issues and gained weight, both of which didn’t help her in competitions. Pinter eventually had a conversation with Harris about her problems.

“I opened up to him about what I went through the year before mentally, the depression, unhealthy habits, and the weight gain,” Pinter said. “When I told him how much my weight gain affected me, he replied with ‘well it seemed to work for your boyfriend.’ After that, I really did not feel like I could be vulnerable around him and I just felt very uncomfortable.”

Early in her Humboldt career, Pinter developed Achilles tendinitis. Following the diagnosis, Harris allegedly requested Pinter meet him at the track alone, where Pinter claims that Harris accused her of not caring about the sport and then performed a treatment on Pinter’s legs.

“He proceeded to have me lay on the floor while he pressed a lacrosse ball into my calf and dragged it along my legs. The pain was almost unbearable and I left covered in bite marks from trying to stifle my cries,” Pinter said. “When I stood, I found that my legs were bright red with patches turning purple and I could barely walk. I called my boyfriend for help and he ended up carrying me back to my dorm. This would become a regular occurrence.”

Another ‘Jacks cross country student-athlete who wished to remain anonymous said that the same lacrosse ball massage had been done on them. Humboldt athletic trainers allegedly told the student-athlete not to let Harris perform that treatment.

Pinter battled injuries before transferring out of Cal Poly Humboldt, but not before another odd interaction with her coach.

“Coach Harris would check in occasionally, and on one particular occasion, he texted me something that seemed out of place,” Pinter said. “To this day, I am unsure of what his intentions were. He said, ‘Do you want to hang out later?’ At the time, I just hoped he had sent me the wrong message. Unsure of how to respond, I just made something up to push it to the side.”

Mariska Kessler’s story

Kessler began having health issues stemming from her blood pressure after arriving in Humboldt, which led to her first issue with Harris. According to Kessler, Harris viewed her health issue as more mental than physical. After receiving medication to treat her blood pressure, Kessler returned to full health and began training for the upcoming season. She said the training resulted in her immune system crashing, and she then got sick multiple times during the season.

“I think he really thought this was a mental problem, and then it got to the point where there was a lot more evidence showing it wasn’t a medical problem,” Kessler said. “A lot of times, he’ll have very strong opinions on what’s wrong with people and the trainers will say something else, so sometimes athletes will have to play both sides because the trainer is telling them one thing, but then Jamey’s telling them another.”

Kessler continued through the season, but on her way to a race later that season, she had another health issue stemming from her blood pressure issue, which resulted in an emergency room visit. After running tests, Kessler was cleared to compete and did so, beginning a race and immediately dropping out, which wasn’t something out of the ordinary for the program. The Humboldt’s women’s cross country team had limited numbers but needed racers to ensure that the team would have enough racers to qualify for the event. Harris didn’t attend the meet but did send Kessler a text message the night before the event, encouraging her to participate in the race.

“That night Jamey messages me, the first I have heard from him since I left for the meet,” Kessler said. “He tells me he wants me to race the next day. I respond with the other coaches, ‘don’t think it’s safe and are sending me home early in the morning.’ He ignored this text.”

What’s next?

Jamey Harris remains as Cal Poly Humboldt’s head cross country coach and recruiting coordinator. He was hired by Humboldt in 2017 after serving as the head track and cross country coach UC Santa Cruz from 2014-2017.

Humboldt’s women’s cross country team finished ninth of 11 teams in the CCAA in 2024.

Dylan McNeill can be reached at 707-441-0526.

To the outside world, 6-foot-1 Ella Connor was on a great path to a bright future.

After graduating from Seabury Hall in 2021, she left Maui to attend California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and play NCAA beach volleyball. She adapted quickly to the college game, becoming the first Mustang to win Big West Conference Freshman of the Year, going 27-12 with partner Tia Miric at the No. 1 spot — the second most wins in a single season by a Mustang pair.

But in the midst of it all, Connor suffered from severe panic attacks and other mental health issues.

Her struggles became so severe during her sophomore year that she ended up in the hospital twice — each time after a suicide attempt.

“Some of it was volleyball related,” said Connor, now 22. “Some of it was people related. Some of it was just regular mental health struggles of being in college and being an athlete at the same time. But it was just a lot of everything.”

She and her family knew something needed to change, and fast. Enter Herc, a 4 1/2-year-old golden retriever and Irish setter mix.

The service dog’s constant love and companionship turned out to be the best prescription for her.

“I’m doing absolutely amazing now,” she said. “I’m off all of my medications for all my mental health stuff.”

Connor said she has 40% fewer panic attacks because of Herc, short for Hercules, who underwent a six-month training regimen at Doggie Do Good in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Herc senses when a panic attack is coming on. The dog judges by smell and her breathing patterns, forcing her to lay down and slow her breathing to overcome the attacks, she said. He also lays on her as a calming affect.

With Herc by her side, Connor made a quick comeback after the mental health issues forced her to redshirt as a sophomore to maintain a year of eligibility. She played so well the next season that she was named an American Volleyball Coaches Association First Team All-American. She also was half of the Big West Conference Pair of the Year with partner Izzy Martinez, who also was named First Team All-Big West Conference. 

The cute, furry dog, known at Cal Poly as “Mr. Herc,” also has become a rock-star in the world of college beach volleyball.

“People will recognize Herc, but they don’t always recognize me,” Connor said. “Most of them will be like, ‘Oh, that’s the volleyball dog, right?’ “

Herc has his own biography on the Cal Poly beach volleyball team page which says: “He enjoys watching beach volleyball, supporting the Mustangs, playing in the sand, making friends and eating peanut butter.”

Herc also has more than 300 followers on his Instagram account @Mr_Herc.

The NCAA beach volleyball format is team vs. team in five matches of pairs from each school. Coaches make out their lineups by sending out pairs ranked 1 through 5 and the team that wins at least three of the five matches is the overall winner.

During Connor’s comeback 2024 season, she and Martinez rang up a 26-10 record for Cal Poly, which advanced to the NCAA Final Four. The duo were 24-10 playing at the No. 1 spot and 2-0 at No. 2.

Martinez, who is from Winnetka, Calif., met Connor for the first time when both were playing in a youth tournament in Hermosa Beach, Calif., when both were in high school. Rain was pouring down and Martinez invited Connor under their canopy tent.

Martinez’s father told his daughter “Oh my God, that was Ella Connor and she’s committed to Cal Poly where you want to go,” Martinez said. “And then once we came to Cal Poly, we’ve been really close.”

So it came as a shock to Martinez when she received a team-wide text in January 2023.

“I just remember the night that our team captains texted the whole team and said, ‘Hey, we need to talk as a team,’ ” Martinez said. “All of us were, ‘Oh, this never happens, what’s going on?’ And then one of our teammates noticed that Ella wasn’t on the text thread.”

“Ella’s on hold right now in a medical facility to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself,” a teammate told them.

The next time Martinez saw Connor, Herc had come into her life.

“The difference was night and day with Ella and how much happier she is with Herc around,” Martinez said. “I can’t describe it unless you see it. She’s just standing more happy, more active. She just seems herself again.”

In 2025, Connor was 22-8 playing in the No. 4 spot, primarily with senior Madison Nichols, and again Connor gained all-conference honors while the Mustangs made another run to the NCAA Final Four.

“It’s remarkable,” Cal Poly Coach Todd Rogers said of Connor’s recovery. “It was difficult when she was going through it. I’ve encouraged her … maybe even pushed her to be open about it.”

Rogers, who won an Olympic gold medal in beach volleyball in 2008 and has been the Mustangs’ coach since 2016, said: “I was pretty open about it when people asked me, and basically told Ella, ‘Look, you’re a platform.’ ”

But it took an eye-opening experience for Connor to become more comfortable talking about her mental health challenges. She and Herc were at dinner with the Cal Poly team during the 2024 NCAA Tournament in Gulf Shores, Ala., when a mother came up to talk to Connor.

Herc is listed on the Cal Poly beach volleyball website as the “Director of Player Morale” and he was featured by ESPN during the 2024 NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship broadcast and on the NCAA Volleyball social media.

“The mom came up to me and said, ‘Hey, are you Ella? Are you the one with the dog?’ ” Connor said. “She said, ‘I just wanted to say your story was so inspirational. My daughter has really bad panic attacks and she struggles to leave the house and your story gave her the courage to get up and leave the house.’ So it was just something that was super cool.”

Connor said after that interaction, she decided to reach out to the NCAA and do an interview with the organization that runs college athletics. 

“I was like, ‘Well, I guess I’ve got to share all about it now,’ ” Connor said.

Connor told Susanna Weir for the NCAA story that was published in May 2024: “There were a lot of times where I felt like I was alone, and I was dealing with it on my own. I hope that (my story) inspires others to reach out for help.”

A year later, Connor says she does not feel alone with Herc in the picture “because he’s always with me.”

Rogers pointed to the interaction Connor had with the mother who approached her at the team dinner in 2024 as the turning point for Connor to become more open about her mental health struggles.

“So it’s been fun to watch Ella just embrace, ‘You know what? This happened to me,’ ” Rogers said. “It’s real. ‘I can either shun it and hide from it or I can share my experiences.’ And if it helps one person, great. So she’s embraced that.”

Connor said her openness about her mental health and other challenges reach the adolescent girls she coaches for both indoor and sand play.

“I love the girls,” Connor said. “The relationships that you can make with girls at this age is so impactful to them. … It’s just truly inspirational what you can do off the court. On the court, volleyball, whatever, but being a role model for them is so important.”

When she tells people she is from Maui, they think it is “a super cool thing. … I love representing.”

While she hopes to continue to inspire people, she doesn’t delve too far into the personal specifics of her mental health challenges because she is ready to move on and live her life. And she has.

Connor has been able to adapt to almost any partner — she is a stalwart on the summer circuit, teaming with partners from several different schools — but last weekend she was back with Martinez as they finished second in the Association of Volleyball Professionals Waupaca Open in Wisconsin.

“This is absolutely the best result for any Maui female volleyball player ever,” said Scott Zucco, Connor’s beach volleyball youth coach. Zucco has coached numerous other Maui volleyball standouts who have gone on to college and professional careers both indoor and on the beach, including Amy Ozee, Shayla Hoeft and Colton Cowell.

The result qualified the familiar pair for the main draw of the Manhattan Beach Open, which takes place Aug. 15-17 in California and is considered the most prestigious tournament on the AVP Tour.

As always, Herc will be at Connor’s side in Manhattan Beach. He rides beneath her seat on airplanes.

When Rogers saw Connor and Martinez qualify for the Manhattan Beach Open, he smiled to himself.

“It’s kind of a ‘reunited and it feels so good’ moment. A little Peaches and Herb,” Rogers said. ”I actually sent them a little gift.”

As Herc helps Connor overcome her anxiety that still can become extreme, she is able to do more things, including coaching a high school team at Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Zucco is not surprised that Connor has adapted well after Herc came to help her. He often points to Connor as an example of what is possible to accomplish for his young players coming up now, but it is her personality that comes to his mind first.

“Ella, wherever she went, she made friends with girls, guys, young, old, volleyball players, non-volleyball players,” Zucco said. “People energize her.”

One story that Zucco shares with his youngsters now is how Connor would bump the ball over the net instead of rise to spike it down when she was in eighth grade, out of respect for her opponents.

Connor, now a senior at Cal Poly, is majoring in experience industry management with a concentration in sport management. She wants to work in the National Football League doing scheduling.

First, Connor will enjoy her final season as a Mustang and then possibly give the AVP Tour a shot, quite likely with Martinez as her partner. It is not an easy road — the pair made just $2,400 apiece for their second-place finish in Wisconsin.

Connor is on a full scholarship, but does not receive any Name, Image and Likeness money that is now allowed to NCAA student-athletes.

”I’ll give it a shot, but I need to see because beach volleyball is a poor sport,” Connor said. “So it’s hard to want to keep training and playing. You’re just losing money constantly. If it works out, I’m totally down to try it.”

But for now, Ella and Herc are gearing up for one more season at Cal Poly. Martinez said they both are so important to the team.

“I cannot tell you how many people just get to practice early and sit with Herc on the ground, in the sand with him before practice,” Martinez said. “I do it all the time. All of my teammates would agree. He’s amazing.”

Angel Reese Opens Up About Cyberbullying, Mental Health, And Sisterhood In The WNBA originally appeared on Fadeaway World.

Angel Reese has been one of the most polarizing names in basketball since winning the NCAA title with LSU. But behind the headlines and viral moments is a 23-year-old adjusting to sudden fame, harsh criticism, and the mental toll that comes with it. Speaking candidly this week, Reese opened up about the hate she’s endured online, how it changed her life, and the emotional growth she’s experienced during her tenure with the Chicago Sky.

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“After I won the National Championship, my whole life changed. And that was the first time I had seen negativity like that on social media,” said Reese on SportsCenter. “I thought I had a huge following before, but I had to change my whole lifestyle. It doesn’t bother me as much anymore, just because I feel like I’ve built a thicker skin. But not everybody has a thick skin, and that’s why I think a lot of players always come up and ask me, ‘Are you okay, how are you doing?’ and they do a check-in with me. I don’t know what’s genuine, but I’m starting to open up and branch out a little bit. This is like the closest I’ve been to these players this year. Last year, I wasn’t that close. When I was in Phoenix, I was very quiet; I didn’t talk to anybody. And that’s what I really love about this league—having sisters who care about me and knowing I can take that support and pour it back into the community. There’s a lot of cyberbullying going on, and not everybody’s as strong as I am, so I thought, why not flip a negative into a positive and give back?”

Reese is just 21 games into her sophomore season, but she’s already become one of the WNBA’s most polarizing players. On the court, she plays with an admirable level of passion and tenacity that elevates her impact. In 55 games so far, she’s averaging 13.7 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on 41.1% shooting. She’s already a 2x All-Star and finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.

Reese has been preparing for this stage her entire life, but the transition hasn’t been easy. During her championship run with LSU in 2023, she experienced the dark side of social media for the first time, and it gave her a new perspective on life under the spotlight. As she went viral for her bold statements, aggressive play, and never-ending trash talk, the critics came together to bash and discredit her character.

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As the basketball star joined the WNBA and rose to prominence in the pros, the hate only got worse as critics continued to pile on, attacking her game and questioning her competitive fire. Through it all, she remained focused on the mission thanks to her colleagues and a community of women dedicated to protecting each other. Even during the times when she loses control, it never becomes a bigger problem in the locker room.

In truth, Angel Reese is still just getting started, but she’s already using her platform to speak up for those who can’t. Her journey—from college sensation to WNBA star—hasn’t been without turbulence, but it’s made her stronger, more connected, and more committed to leading with purpose. In a league built on unity and empowerment, she’s finding her voice—and helping others find theirs too.

Related: Shaquille O’Neal Defends Angel Reese, Threatens To Punch RGIII Over ‘Monkey Post’

This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.

Whether you’re an avid tennis watcher or not, chances are you’ve heard of Naomi Osaka, as she’s one of the best Black tennis players of all time. She hails from Japan and has made international headlines not just for her incredible athletic ability but for several tennis world records, including being the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title and sparking conversations around mental health and motherhood.

A global icon in the making: The rise of Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka was born in Japan on October 16, 1997, to a Haitian father and a Japanese mother. She spent the first three years of her life in Japan. Then, her family relocated to Long Island, New York, where a young Osaka first began playing tennis. Her father had been inspired by the careers of Venus and Serena Williams, and he believed his daughters — Osaka’s sister, Mari, is also a professional tennis player — could experience the same kind of success. 

So, three-year-old Osaka picked up a tennis racket and began training. Her training continued when the family moved to Broward County, Florida, where many great American tennis players have trained. She was so dedicated to the sport at the time that it dominated her entire day. She practiced tennis during the day and was homeschooled at night. 

Other tennis players her age might have eased into their careers by starting in junior tournaments. Not Osaka. Just like the Williams sisters, whose example her father had her set to follow, Osaka kicked off her professional career in 2013 and began competing against older players.

From prodigy to powerhouse

Since she was a dual citizen, Osaka had the choice whether she’d represent the U.S. or Japan in her professional career. Osaka chose Japan, largely influenced by her father’s belief that playing for Japan would open up more opportunities. 

Whether it was from the country she wore on her back or purely because of her exceptional talent, Osaka began finding career success and encountering opportunities she didn’t have before. She competed in her first Grand Slam tournaments in 2015 at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. Osaka didn’t win either tournament, but still, her career continued to move forward. 

In 2016, Osaka made it to the round of 32 at three Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the French Open and the U.S. Open. That year’s U.S. Open was particularly significant for her. There, her serve was clocked at 125 miles per hour, one of the fastest serves ever recorded in women’s tennis and a sign that Osaka would be one to watch for the rest of her career. Further cementing Osaka’s status as a future star was being awarded the Women’s Tennis Association’s 2016 Newcomer of the Year Award.

Grand Slam glory: Defeating Serena Williams

Two thousand eighteen was a breakthrough season for Osaka, as she not only won her first Women’s Tennis Association Tour title but also the U.S. Open. Osaka’s U.S. Open victory was particularly monumental, as it made her the first Japanese player to become a Grand Slam singles champion. Not only that, but she defeated her childhood idol, Serena Williams, in the final match, blocking her from a record-tying 24th major singles title. 

What should have been a sweet victory for Osaka quickly turned sour. Her match with Williams had a somewhat controversial ending. Rather than cheers from fans, Osaka was met with boos from a crowd disappointed in the way the game was officiated. Williams defended her competitor, urging spectators to stop booing her. However, despite having her hero’s support, the experience was still painful for Osaka. She told the Tennis Insider Club Podcast, 

“I went on social media…I was just reading a lot of people saying I didn’t deserve to win. After I won my first U.S. Open. Oh, God. I remember I started crying a lot. I still think about it a lot.”

Best of the best: Osaka’s first no. 1 ranking and Tokyo Olympics

Osaka often told reporters she wanted to be the best, and in 2019, after winning the Australian Open, she officially reached that goal. Osaka reached the world number one ranking for the first time, becoming the first Asian player to ever do so. She held her number one spot for 21 weeks, until Australian Ashleigh Barty claimed it in June. However, Osaka took it back in mid-August.

In 2020, Osaka won her second U.S. Open, this time defeating Victoria Azarenka. This victory also made her the 20th woman to win at least three majors in the Open Era. The following year brought her a second Australian Open title — she defeated Serena Williams in the semifinal and Jennifer Brady in the final — and an opportunity to represent Japan at the Tokyo Olympics. Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron during the Games’ opening ceremony, the first tennis player to ever do so.

Poise under pressure

Osaka’s rise to the top of the women’s tennis world kept a lot of eyes on her at all times. However, she never crumbled under the pressure. She became known for her cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor, particularly during the controversial match against Serena Williams at the 2018 U.S. Open. 

A Japanese newspaper called her a “new heroine Japan is proud of,” noting the striking contrast between her strength and power on the court and her gentleness off of it. Another Japanese publication said that Osaka’s personality and talents could make her one of the faces of the Tokyo Olympics, which she was.

The voice behind the victory: Naomi Osaka on mental health and self-advocacy

Since she was thrust into the spotlight in 2016, Osaka has consistently made headlines for her athletic abilities. In 2021, though, she was in the news for a different reason: mental health issues. 

Despite being known for a calm and confident attitude, Osaka revealed she had long been feeling the pressure of it all, noting that she faced “long bouts of depression” since her 2018 U.S. Open win. To protect her mental health, Naomi Osaka decided that, during the 2021 French Open, she would not be participating in post-match interviews. 

Tournament organizers hit Osaka with a $15,000 fine, claiming that opting out of interviews would leave her media obligations unfulfilled. But Osaka, determined to protect her already anxious mind, only doubled down on her commitment to self-care. She decided to leave the tournament altogether. This marked the first time in professional tennis that a major star withdrew without a physical injury and proved that Naomi Osaka and mental health awareness go hand-in-hand. 

She wrote in an Instagram statement, 

“I think now the best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris.” 

Though her decision was met with backlash by some, others, Serena Williams and Billie Jean King, for example, wholeheartedly supported her decision to take a step back and take care of herself.

Osaka returned to the game later that year to play at the U.S. Open, but after a third-round loss, she took a four-month hiatus. After the loss, she told reporters, 

“I feel like I’m kind of at this point where I’m trying to figure out what I want to do, and I honestly don’t know when I’m going to play my next tennis match.”

A triumphant return: 2024 U.S. Open and the spirit of resilience

After a rocky 2022 season, Osaka announced that she would be taking all of 2023 off to give birth to her first child, a daughter named Shai, whom she shares with rapper Cordae. The new mother returned to the game in 2024, competing at the Australian and French Opens and at Wimbledon. However, she didn’t emerge victorious at any of the tournaments. 

In late summer 2024, Osaka joined the world’s best athletes in Paris, and millions tuned in to watch Naomi Osaka’s Olympics comeback. Unfortunately, she lost in the first round. Though disappointed, Osaka remained hopeful she could become the player she once was.

“I guess I need to learn how to win again. Maybe that’s something I forgot how to do. Maybe I have to keep playing matches against really good players to relearn that,” she said. 

Following the 2024 Paris Olympics, Osaka played in the U.S. Open. While she didn’t win the Grand Slam, she did win her first-round match against number-10 player Jelena Ostapenko. This win marked Osaka’s first U.S. Open match victory in three years and her first time beating a top-10 player since 2020. 

Her first-round victory was emotional — Osaka shed a few tears after the match — and inspiring, especially to women, positioning Osaka as a beacon of hope to women feeling disconnected from their bodies and themselves postpartum. After the match, she told reporters, 

“Last year, I was watching Coco [Gauff] play, and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again. I didn’t know if I could…just to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me.”

Building an empire: Wealth, branding and cultural power

Osaka has found herself atop the list of the world’s highest-paid female athletes several times. The most notable time was in 2020, when the $37.4 million she raked in made her the highest-paid female athlete ever, according to the Guinness World Records. Serena Williams held the record until that point.

While much of Osaka’s earnings come from prize money, another portion of it comes from brand partnerships. In 2024, Osaka teamed up with fashion designer Yoon Ahn to create one-of-a-kind performance dresses to coincide with her return to the U.S. Open. Osaka’s involvement with the sportswear giant makes sense, as Nike has become known for empowering and supporting female athletes.

Another of Osaka’s noteworthy brand partners is Louis Vuitton. The luxury fashion house named her a brand ambassador in 2020, and she has publicly represented LV ever since. It may seem like an odd coupling, but it aligns with Osaka’s brand and interests. When the collaboration was announced, Osaka stated,

“Aside from tennis, my most treasured passion is fashion, and there is no brand more iconic than Louis Vuitton…To become a global brand ambassador is truly a dream come true for me.”

Osaka’s passion for fashion not only came through in her Nike and Louis Vuitton collaborations. It also shone in the Adeam fashion show during New York Fashion Week in 2020. The tennis star helped create the pieces that the Japanese-American label debuted on the runway that winter.

A lasting legacy: Naomi Osaka on inspiring the next generation

Whether they are tennis players or not, young audiences have plenty of reasons to look to Naomi Osaka’s life for guidance and inspiration. Her lifelong dedication to her sport and determination to be the best teach aspiring athletes how far hard work and self-confidence can take them, and her commitment to self-advocacy, prioritizing mental health and empowering women make her a worthy role model to the masses and one of the most influential people in sports. 

After a brief hiatus due to an injury in January 2025, Osaka returned to tennis in June 2025. Her return hasn’t been as triumphant as she’d hoped it would be — she had a frustrating first-round loss at the French Open — but she told reporters she’s optimistic about Wimbledon and her future in the sport.

Regardless of how the rest of her 2025 season goes, the Japanese-American tennis champion will likely always be known as an iconic celebrity athlete, and her record-breaking athletic abilities, emphasis on mental health and determination will go down in history. 

When star gymnast Simone Biles chose to withdraw from the team final at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, it sent shockwaves through the sports world. But beyond the media frenzy, her courage left a deep and lasting mark on generations of athletes-like Olivia Dunne, who recently revealed how that moment inspired her to take care of her own mental health.

“I guess it was better that she stepped out… you don’t want to get injured at an Olympic Games,”Livvy said last year during her final season with the LSU Tigers gymnastics team. For her, Simone’s example wasn’t just understandable-it was necessary. The message was clear: it’s not just about medals, it’s about emotional well-being.

Dunne opens up about pressure in women’s gymnastics

With nearly 20 years in the sport, Dunne has experienced the physical and mental toll of elite gymnastics. “Most gymnasts go through that at least once in their career. I did,” she admitted in a recent interview. Like Biles, Livvy also needed help to deal with her own internal struggles.

In her appearance on the YouTube podcast What’s Your Story?, hosted by Steph McMahon, Dunne spoke for the first time about the support system that got her through her darkest moments. She referenced what gymnasts call the “twisties”-a mental disorientation that can put an athlete at serious risk. “I don’t even like saying that word,” she confessed, “but it really is a mental game.”

Olivia on balance and health

Unlike Simone, who in Tokyo was supported by Dr. Marcia Faustin, Olivia found her main source of support in someone closer to home: her aunt, Laura St. John. “She was my mental health coach… she changed my career,” Livvy shared, visibly moved.

That support not only helped her stay grounded during competitions but also pushed her to dream bigger. “To this day, I talk to her, and she helps me bring my dreams to life,” she explained. For Olivia, her aunt wasn’t just an emotional guide-she was a key part of her success in a sport as demanding as artistic gymnastics.

Olivia Dunne retires and closes a chapter

With the end of the NCAA season, Olivia Dunne has officially wrapped up her gymnastics career. Although she and Simone Biles once shared a spot on the U.S. national team, their paths are now diverging. At 22, Livvy is entering a new chapter off the mat, while Simone has yet to define her future.

In an interview with USA Today, Dunne spoke about the possibility of Biles competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics: “I don’t know if it’s in her plans… but she’s the greatest of all time.” Meanwhile, Simone kept fans guessing at the Laureus Awards: “Compete? I don’t know… whether it’s on the apparatus or in the stands, I haven’t decided yet.”

Mental health in elite sports

Simone Biles’ example paved the way for athletes like Olivia Dunne to speak out, seek help, and prioritize their well-being. Gymnastics is no longer just about technical perfection-it’s about emotional balance, too.

Thanks to figures like Livvy and Simone, mental health has become a central topic in sports. And that may be one of the most meaningful legacies these athletes can leave for the generations to come.