Elena Della Donne
Olympic basketball player & small business owner
1. What sports did you play during puberty?
I played basketball and volleyball. I was very competitive growing up, especially when I was playing against my older brother.
2. Do you think playing sports during puberty helped you become more confident?
Yes, sports helped me become more confident and encouraged me to be more social and meet new people.
3. What skills did you learn from playing these sports?
So many! Leadership, what it means to be a part of a team, how to uplift and encourage others, different ways to communicate and many more.
4. How do you think these skills have helped you?
I use these skills professionally and in my personal life. They’ve especially helped me when it comes to the work I do to help others, by bringing me out of my shell and giving me the platform, resources and confidence to advocate and fight for others.


5. Do you think society does enough to encourage girls to keep playing sports? What more can we do?
It’s getting better but there’s still so much room for growth.
Representation is key. In addition to encouraging girls through words, we should continue to support women’s sports so that these young girls can see themselves represented at the highest level. And hopefully when they get to this level, we will have left the game in a much better place for them
We also need to teach young girls to be confident in themselves, their bodies, and their abilities.
And - we need to provide them resources to understand how to the handle different situations they’ll go through during puberty.
6. What would you say to a puberty-aged girl that is thinking about quitting sports?
Don’t let other people’s opinions stop you from doing something you love. Hard work and dedication will get you to your dreams.
7. What is something someone shared with you when you were younger that you found helpful?
Being encouraged to just be myself was a game changer! Once I started leaning into the things that made me unique, such as my height, I was able to discover my true potential and have confidence while doing it.
8. Why are you excited to partner with Always to #KeepHerPlaying?
Sports changed my life and taught me so many great skills along the way. I want to make sure every girl knows that she has the same opportunity.
Mariah Duran
Olympic skateboarder & mentor
1. What sports did you play during puberty?
Baseball, softball, basketball, and skateboarding.
2. Do you think playing sports during puberty helped you become more confident?
Yes. I believe sports definitely taught me to be more comfortable with failure and taught me how to overcome a lot of obstacles. And just by doing that it definitely helped my confidence in and out of sports. I’m more comfortable going into uncertainty, new places and new situations, meeting new people.
With skateboarding you never know what will come next. There are so many variables, and it’s arguably 50% a mental game, so you just focus on doing your best to achieve your desired outcome. Now, when I’m thrown into situations I’ve never been in, I can more easily just go with the flow and show up confidently just as myself, knowing I’ll be able to handle whatever comes my way.
3. What skills did you learn from playing these sports?
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Focus, accountability, discipline, progression and patience. I’ve learned more about what it takes to see results, and what it feels like to move through both internal & external obstacles. One form of patience I use is the practice of trial & error - giving myself permission to try again and again, till I get it.
4. How do you think these skills have helped you?
Having focus taught me that I can accomplish anything by putting my mind to it. Being accountable taught me to do the right thing when no one is looking. Being disciplined helps me to keep pushing forward even when I don’t want to. And having progression reminds me to always search for growth in whatever I do.
I’ve learned to carry patience outside of sport too – allowing myself to be patient with others as they do their best in whatever they’re doing. And it’s important to me to always be growing, getting better, and learning, on and off my board. You need patience to get good at any new craft!
I believe these skills have also helped me champion and advocate for others. You don’t have to be the best to inspire possibility for others, just seeing someone that you can relate to going after it, is enough. We all have a voice and I feel blessed to have a platform to try to help others.
Sports and life can be very competitive and I’m so fortunate to have my best friends be skaters. Skateboarding has become more about comradery, it’s about doing your best and authentically hoping all your friends land their best runs too. I believe we can show the world that championing and advocating for others can be symbiotic with competition and even the Olympics.
5. Do you think society does enough to encourage girls to keep playing sports? What more can we do?
I feel like society encourages “kids” to keep playing sports, but at a certain age you just stop seeing as many girls playing sports. That’s why I think it would be helpful to visually see more women in sports in the media.
I also think there needs to be more support & opportunities for girls who want to play a sport that historically isn’t known as a “girls sport”. It’s hard enough for any kid to start a new sport, but it is especially hard if society on top of all of that, tells you you’re not made for it or welcome to learn this new craft.
Coaches and team managers can make all the difference in how boys, and girls, treat each other. Coaches and adults need resources and training on how and what to communicate - support, normalize and empower girls to stay in sport. What’s stigmatized needs to be normalized.
There should be education for girls as well that they are not alone. I was lucky to have the opportunity and a safe environment to gravitate toward whatever sport I was interested in, including sports that society said girls can’t do.
People should be open minded. If a girl wants to play football or skateboard, it should be about equity not just equality meaning they should have extra support and advice in how to play that sport.
6. What would you say to a puberty-aged girl that is thinking about quitting sports?
That any changes you go through during puberty are normal and should never stop you from pursuing something that you love doing! The sooner you accept yourself, the sooner you can make adjustments to enjoy and play your sport.
7. What is something someone shared with you when you were younger that you found helpful?
My mom told me that everybody goes through changes and that I’m not alone. Hearing that allowed me to accept the situation and understand that the only thing that’s going to stop ME from playing sports is ME.
8. Why are you excited to partner with Always to #KeepHerPlaying?
I really like the campaigns Always has done in the past, breaking down stereotypes of girls being athletes.
Keeping girls in sports is very important to me because sports helped make me who I am today and has been a crucial part of teaching me how to navigate life. The only way to grow and normalize girls in a sport is to get more girls playing that sport. Yet twice as many girls as boys drop out of sports once they hit puberty, which I find shocking and extremely unfortunate. I feel like every girl should have the opportunity to see how far their potential goes.
I hope that by knowing other girls have overcome situations that they’re going through, girls feel inspired to keep playing and keep pushing forward.
Scout Bassett
Olympic track & field athlete
& mentor
1. What sports did you play during puberty?
Soccer, volleyball, softball, basketball, tennis, golf, and of course running.
2. Do you think playing sports during puberty helped you become more confident?
Yes, and it taught me to show up no matter what happens.
3. What skills did you learn from playing these sports?
Teamwork, perseverance, discipline and learning to be my own advocate Just because someone says you can’t or shouldn’t, it doesn’t mean that is true!
4. How do you think these skills have helped you?
It taught me I could endure anything – any disappointment, hardship. And if my experience can help inspire others to keep going, that is so meaningful to me.

Donald Miralle/Challenged Athletes Foundation.I strive to help others not feel so alone. My path and experience were so unique that I often felt lonely and didn’t have anyone relatable to turn to. I hope to be that for others.
5. Do you think society does enough to encourage girls to keep playing sports? What more can we do?
I think we are getting there but not quite where we need to be. We need to change the narrative that not only do sports make you strong and powerful, but (and I’m an example of this) it can change your life and take you places you’ve never dreamed of.
I’ve met so many young girls who are not interested in sports because they don’t see athletes as “cool” – but sports are for all girls, of all types, not just those who want to be “athletes”.
We should use the opportunities and platforms we have to talk about the power of sports. Keeping the conversation positive and inclusive.
6. What would you say to a puberty-aged girl that is thinking about quitting sports?
Sports can take you places you’ve never dreamed of. I never would have been able to experience the highs and the rewards I have if I had quit – the rewards are there if you’re willing to stick it out.
7. What is something someone shared with you when you were younger that you found helpful?
You have to devote as much time to training, as you do to your self - care, your growth & tackling your insecurities. A whole-self approach benefits performance.
8. Why are you excited to partner with Always to #KeepHerPlaying?
I love that a brand with such a big platform is putting out a positive, inclusive & encouraging message to all young girls!
Jess McDonald
U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team World Cup Champion, Mother & Equal Pay Advocate
1. What sports did you play during puberty?
I played many sports during puberty. Basketball, track & field, volleyball, soccer, football, and softball.
2. What did you learn from playing all these sports?
Sports helped me become more courageous and brave. I grew up with all boys, and whilst I found it humbling to outrun or beat them in a sport, it also helped build my confidence. It showed me, even as a little girl, that I was capable of a lot.
3. How do you think these skills helped you get to where you are today?
The skills I learned while playing sport have helped me tremendously outside of it. I’ve learned to be bold when facing anything or anyone. And I’ve learned how to lose and handle it in more of a positive manner!
4. Do you think society does enough to encourage girls to keep playing sports?
I think more recently, society has been much more supportive of female sports. With that support young girls who one day want to be in our shoes are getting more exposure. And the more exposure they get, the more they’re able to see that they can be anything that they want.


5. What more can we do to encourage girls in sport?
There are a lot of different ways we can help encourage girls to play sport. For example, we can help them understand that being in a competitive environment can help them learn important coping mechanisms. Also, we can remind them that sports are a great way to make new friends. It’s amazing to be in a team environment because you support each other and stay connected. And - sports keeps you active and healthy!
6. What would you say to a puberty-aged girl that is thinking about quitting sports?
I would say keep going! Life in general is hard. It’s going to take hard work in order to be successful. Quitting does nothing for you. When you work hard through something, i.e. sports, it’s more rewarding. Sport teaches you hard work. With hard work, comes success.
7. Why are you excited to partner with Always to #KeepHerPlaying?
My heart is all the way in it with Always to help encourage young girls going through puberty, and their supporters. I believe I can be a good role model for the younger generation because I’ve been there and done that. I want to continue to show them that it is possible. I did it through playing 2+ sports at a time until my sophomore year in college. I want to show them that I did it and they can too!