Podcast / Edge of Sports / Sep 12, 2023

Chamique Holdsclaw on Depression and Fame

On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, the legendary athlete speaks frankly about sports fame and mental health.

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Chamique Holdsclaw on Depression and Fame | Edge of Sports
byThe Nation Magazine

Chamique Holdsclaw's legendary status was apparent from the moment she entered professional sports. After helping the US National Team win the Gold Medal in the 1998 Berlin Olympics, Holdsclaw was named Rookie of the Year in her first WNBA season. Her talent on the court and success in the WNBA projected an image of stability, but away from the cameras, Holdsclaw struggled with her mental health. 

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(Jonathan Daniel / Allsport / Getty Images)

Chamique Holdsclaw’s legendary status was apparent when she entered professional sports. Holdsclaw was named Rookie of the Year in her first WNBA season after helping the US National Team win the Gold Medal in the 1998 Berlin Olympics. Her talent on the court and success in the WNBA projected an image of stability, but away from the cameras, Holdsclaw struggled with her mental health.

On this episode of Edge of Sports, Holdsclaw speaks frankly about her struggles with depression, bipolar disorder, and fame. Elsewhere in the episode, Dave rails against the “anti-woke” Trumpist response to the US Women’s National Soccer Team’s loss at the FIFA World Cup, and Dr. Abdullah Al Arian joins Ask a Sports Scholar to talk about soccer in the Middle East.

The Nation Podcasts
The Nation Podcasts

Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Chamique Holdsclaw on Depression and Fame | Edge of Sports
byThe Nation Magazine

Chamique Holdsclaw's legendary status was apparent from the moment she entered professional sports. After helping the US National Team win the Gold Medal in the 1998 Berlin Olympics, Holdsclaw was named Rookie of the Year in her first WNBA season. Her talent on the court and success in the WNBA projected an image of stability, but away from the cameras, Holdsclaw struggled with her mental health. 

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Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.

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