Athletes, abortion & anxiety: Uncertainty sets in on college campuses

Wednesday, August 31

Roe v. Wade reversal breeds uncertainty for college athletic programs.

Illustration: Andrea Brunty, USA TODAY Network, and Getty Images

The overturning of Roe vs. Wade, one Power Five coach told USA TODAY Sports, caused "major panic" across women's college sports.

Since the ruling, roughly a third of women in the country have lost access to abortion. This has prompted anxiety and concern in college athletics about what the decision will mean for female athletes and the people their families have trusted to protect them.

Mostly, though, it has created uncertainty. Coaches, athletic administrators and support staff are trying to figure out, often on their own, what is allowed and what isn't, what they will do if – when – an athlete comes to them and says she needs an abortion.

"My gut feeling tells me that current coaches, and maybe even athletes, are going to be very reluctant to talk openly about this because they're concerned about repercussions both from the public and possibly the administration," said Greg Marsden, who coached the Utah women's gymnastics team for 40 years until he retired in 2015. "The Dobbs decision has made this a very difficult situation."

February 6, 2015; Utah gymnastics vs Arizona State. Greg Marsden, the coach of the Utah women's gymnastics team for 40 years until he retired in 2015.

Russ Isabella, University of Utah

The state-by-state patchwork of laws creates confusion about a woman's reproductive rights. Abortion might be permitted in an athlete's home state, or in states where other conference schools are located, but not in the state where she goes to school.

"Pregnancy in college student-athletes is crisis pregnancy," said Elizabeth Sorensen, who co-wrote the NCAA's pregnancy handbook. "It's a mental health crisis. They don't know who to turn to for help. They feel tremendous pressure to make a quick decision."

Read the first installment in USA TODAY Sports' series about how the reversal of Roe affects college athletics.

Other related coverage:

•	OPINION: NCAA displays its cowardice in staying silent on Indiana's near-total abortion ban.
•	OPINION: Where are the male athlete allies for women as Roe v. Wade is overturned?
•	OPINION: Gains of Title IX are not possible without access to abortion rights.
•	REACTION: U.S. Olympian, Billie Jean King, sports figures speak out on Roe v. Wade being overturned.