Athletes train for almost every scenario. But there’s a stressor sports hasn’t caught up to

She was a professor at Harvard Business School and is a best-selling author. Before the opening tip of an NCAA tournament game, an unnamed college basketball player opened his phone and read this message on social media from a stranger: “Yo no big deal but if you don’t get 22 points and 12 boards everyone y

This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental side of sports. Sign up for Peak’s newsletter here . Amy Cuddy is a social psychologist who studies nonverbal communication.

She was a professor at Harvard Business School and is a best-selling author. Before the opening tip of an NCAA tournament game, an unnamed college basketball player opened his phone and read this message on social media from a stranger: “Yo no big deal but if you don’t get 22 points and 12 boards everyone you know and love will be dead. ” The message was among thousands documented in a 2024 NCAA study on online harassment in college sports.

The player was not identified. Sit with that for a moment. This player hadn’t yet stepped on the court.