Full Court Press: Menopause & the WNBA

🏀 Welcome In Hey hey, Menobodies!Today’s episode is all about menopause and the WNBA—and yes, this one is a little personal.Because… I live in Indianapolis, and we’ve got the incredible Indiana Fever right here.So naturally, my curiosity kicked in hard:👉 What is happening in women’s professional basketball when it comes to menopause?Let’s dig in.🔍 What Came Up First (And Why It Matters) The first thing that popped up in my search?A partnership between the Minnesota Lynx and LOLA—providing:Free feminine care productsCommunity education on menstrual cycles👏 YES to this initiative.Seriously—applause all around.But also… let’s talk about it.🤨 Why Is This Still “New”?Not directed at the Lynx—but at society as a whole:Why is this not standard everywhere yet?Why are we just now seeing these basics being addressed?And can we please upgrade the bathroom supplies while we’re at it?!Because let’s be real:👉 Comfort matters.👉 Dignity matters.👉 Women deserve better—everywhere.🔥 The Bigger Question If we can provide:Menstrual productsEducation around cyclesThen WHY aren’t we also providing:👉 Education and support for perimenopause and menopause?Imagine:Arena campaignsTeam-based educationResources for fans and athletes alikeThat’s a captured, powerful audience ready to be supported.🧠 What the Research Says Another thing that surfaced?Research confirming that even elite endurance athletes experience menopause symptoms like:Sleep disruptionFatigueWeight gainJoint painAnd part of me thought:👉 Did we really need research to prove this?But now we know—it’s undeniable:High-level fitness does NOT cancel out menopause.🏃‍♀️ The “Generic Advice” Problem Most of what’s out there for menopause + athletics says:Lower intensity cardioIncrease strength trainingEat more protein and fiberAnd yes—this is helpful. But here’s the issue:👉 This advice is built for the average woman—not elite or high-performance athletes.⚠️ What About Professional Athletes? WNBA players and other elite athletes:Can’t always “slow down”Can’t just reduce intensityAre expected to perform at peak levelsSo what happens?They push throughRisk injuryOr can’t keep up and get labeled as:“Declining”“Washed up”“Past their prime”🚩 Without context.🚩 Without understanding hormones.🚩 Without proper support.📊 A Glimpse of Progress One standout perspective came from Erica Suter Mulholland, a strength coach and lifelong soccer player.She highlights:Female athletes have hormonal cycles that impact performanceTraining schedules should reflect:Fatigue levelsRecovery needsHormonal shifts👉 The big question she raises:Should women’s training schedules be designed differently than men’s?Beth’s take?👉 Probably yes.👉 But we’re not there yet.🧩 What’s Missing After digging through articles and research, here’s the honest truth:👉 There is very little guidance specifically for:Professional athletesHigh-performance womenWomen navigating perimenopause while competingMost resources stop at general wellness.But that’s not enough.💡 Looking Ahead I truly believe:👉 In the next 10 years, we’re going to see major growth in this space.Because the need is there. And we cannot forget:These athletes—Are humanAre feeling the same symptoms many of us areAre under even more pressure to appear “fine”🤝 Your Challenge This Week I want you to:Talk to an athlete in your life(recreational OR professional)Ask how they’re doingOpen the door to this conversationBecause awareness starts small—and spreads fast.💬 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going Got resources? Thoughts? Experiences?Send them my way:📱 DM: Menobodies (Facebook & Instagram)📧 Email: [email protected]’ll keep sharing what I find—and together, we’ll build this knowledge base.🌟 Big Dream Energy My dream?To work with organizations like the WNBA to:Integrate menopause education into athlete careSupport players holisticallyCreate campaigns that reach fans everywhereBecause this isn’t just about athletes.👉 It’s about ALL of us.🎯 Final Thought We are not going down without a fight.Not in sports.Not in our bodies.Not in this stage of life. 💋 Until Next Time… Menobodies of all activity levels—Keep asking questions.Keep pushing for betterKeep showing up.Muah 💜 See you soon.Connect with Beth:💌 Email: [email protected] 📱 Instagram & Facebook: @menobodies🌐 Website: www.menobodies.com/home🗞️Newsletter:www.menobodies.com/newsletter