Jaylen Brown's girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick shares her two cents on pressure taking a toll on mental health: "Hitting in our youth a lot more sooner"
Former Chicago Sky player Kysre Gondrezick understands the high levels of pressure and what it could do to one's mental health. The former top-five pick shared her thoughts on new trends within this issue.
While appearing on the "Meg on the Mic" podcast, Jaylen Brown's girlfriend was asked about social media and the pressures that come with it for female athletes.
"One of things I will say now more than ever, it's hitting now in our youth. A lot more sooner than it did back in the day," Gondrezick said.
"It obviously comes with a level of maturity. But also some grace. I think the girls in women's basketball are doing a very good job of managing that."
Kysre Gondrezick is fresh off her second attempt at trying to find a home in the WNBA. After being out of the league for two years, she was able to land a deal with the Chicago Sky. However, she'd only end up appearing in five games for them before getting waived.
These days, Gondrezick is transitioning into a career as a runway model.
Mental health played a part in Kysre Gondrezick's WNBA hiatus
Kysre Gondrezick is a good person to speak about mental health and pro sports, as she knows firsthand how hard of a battle it can be. In 2021, she cited it as one of the main reasons why she stepped away from the WNBA midway through her rookie season.
After being drafted fourth overall by the Indiana Fever in the 2021 draft, Gondrezick only ended up playing in 19 games for the franchise. They'd end up waiving her leading up to the Olympic break, as she needed to step away from the game for a bit.
As this all was happening, Kysre Gondrezick posted a long message on social media to explain what was going on. She acknowledged that she wasn't in a good place mentally and it resulted in her losing her joy for the game.
"I needed undivded attention on myself and my creator. My mental health was at a high risk as I was under a lot of stress coping with my own personal silence of traumas," she wrote. "I lost sight of his presence, my focus, and ultimately, the fun in the game."
Gondrezick is among the many pro basketball players who have spoken about mental health.