“This is an indication of how teams in Minnesota are just built different,” Yoch said. “Everybody is really committed to the community. Maybe that exists in other markets, but I’ve never seen anything quite like what happens here. This is an incredible testament to how strongly our teams feel about giving back to the community.”
Abderholden noticed an uptick in mental health awareness, and the need for mental health services, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. “Everybody experienced at least a couple of days of being depressed or anxious about what was happening in the world,” she said. “So we’ve seen a much greater discussion about that. With teenagers and young adults, especially those young adults who are also becoming college athletes and professionals, that is also the age where we see some of the most serious mental illnesses emerge.
“So you have this coming together of two issues. And I think there’s also, in professional sports in general, an understanding that if you have good mental health, you’ll perform better, your injuries will heal better. So I guess you could say that the head is connected to the rest of the body.”
And Minnesota sports teams are connected to real-world issues.
The Aurora’s mission statement includes this passage: “… centered on developing women’s talent on and off the field, fostering inclusivity, and creating a safe, welcoming community space for everyone.”
What’s heartening is that so many other Minnesota teams seem to feel the same way.