The most common cancer among women in the U.S. is breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The Arkansas State University soccer team wears pink to raise awareness for the cause. 

The whole team has been wearing pink socks during October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but some players wear additional pink accessories. 

Mckenzie Robinson, a junior strategic communications major from Kansas City, Missouri, puts pink hair ties or pre-wrap tape in her hair during games. 

“I think it’s important for the team to spread awareness because it’s important to show the community that we care and we’re all going to stand together through it,” Robinson said. 

Emma Riales, a senior creative media production major from Collierville, Tennessee, wears pink bows or uses pink pre-wrap tape as a headband. 

“I have known some people who have been affected by breast cancer. So, I just want to support the cause and everything,” Riales said. “I know what a toll it takes on a family and a life. So, I just want to be a supporter.” 

Darby Stotts, a senior elementary education major from Little Rock, said breast cancer has impacted people close to her including her grandmother, a professor and coworkers. 

She said knowing those people motivates her to wear pink during games. 

“Having somebody that I’m wearing pink to remember them or to support them, it gives it a little bit more meaning and a reason why you’re doing it,” Stotts said. 

She also said the team supports Breast Cancer Awareness since the players are women. 

“Being women, we know that could potentially affect us in the future,” she said. 

Robinson said many members of the team wear pink to honor their former assistant coach, Shannon Locke, who fought breast cancer. She now serves as the assistant coach of the Ohio State soccer team. 

“It’s just kind of like cool to see this fight and her because she was an amazing, amazing coach and an amazing person and the fact that she had to go through all of that is just crazy to me and how she endured a lot and like no one would even know because she just kept a strong front,” Robinson said. 

Stotts said supporting the cause unites the team. 

“I think it’s really cool to see how we can all come together as one and we all have different backgrounds but that’s one thing that kind of unifies us is that we’re all fighting for the same thing,” Stotts said. 

Riales said she thinks the team should spread awareness for breast cancer because of its influence. 

“I think as athletes in big teams, like soccer is, we have such a big platform there to be able to spread awareness and just show solidarity,” Riales said. “I think that is a lot more powerful than one person going out and just trying to raise awareness by themselves.”

Categories: Sports