"I think we're going to win three national championships the next three years." - Harper Murray.
A bold statement from a bold freshman volleyball player,
who had just been swept off the National Championship floor by a long-time rival.
Advertisement
A bold statement enthusiastically backed up by her teammate, Rebekah Allick, who responded on camera with "F--- yeah," and Sarah Murray, Harper's mom, saying "There's my girl!"
Not everyone was so impressed with her confidence. She was called a "brat", "cocky", and was told her father, who passed from lung cancer when Harper was young, "k*lled himself cuz you're such a terrible human being." She was told her father would be disappointed in her. And that she, herself, should k*ll herself.
Since then, Harper has not shied away from talking about the experience or her response. She has spoken publicly about her struggles with depression and mental health and has opened herself up to more potential scrutiny through her vulnerability.
To honor National Suicide Prevention Month, Harper released a lengthy statement on Instagram, complete with a series of photos.
Advertisement
In the six months after her declaration, fans and detractors alike had no idea how hard she was spiraling.
It wasn't until the news broke in April of her DUI and again in May of her shoplifting that anyone even suspected she was anything other than herself. And it wasn't until the ESPN E60 documentary, "There is No Place Like Nebraska,"
aired that anyone realized just how bad things had gotten for Murray. That she had been so impacted by the social media response to her confidence that her family worried she'd take her own life.
"These pictures are from three years ago, during one of the lowest points of my life," Murray said in an Instagram post. "I was posting pictures, smiling, traveling, playing volleyball, and living what looked like a really good life. But behind all of that I felt like I was worth nothing. I felt so lost and didn't see the point anymore.
"What you couldn't see in these pictures was everything happening when the camera was off. I was in and out of the hospital, going to therapy, changing medications, trying to understand what was going on in my own head, and trying to make it through each day. I was hurting, and because I didn't know how to handle that hurt, I also made mistakes during that time that I can never take back.
Advertisement
"I think that's one of the scariest things about social media. We get to choose what people see. Someone can look happy, have friends, be successful, post cute pictures, and still be fighting something every day that no one knows about.
"Three years later, I'm so grateful that the version of me in these pictures kept going. There are so many people I hadn't met yet, memories I hadn't made yet, and parts of myself I hadn't even gotten the chance to know.
"These pictures are just a reminder that you truly never know what someone is going through. Be kind, even when you don't think someone needs it. What you see online is only part of the story. We're all human at the end of the day"
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college athletes, and the rates have doubled over the last twenty years. For every Katie Meyer, captain of the Stanford soccer team, or Lauren Bennett, catcher for the James Madison softball team, countless other athletes attempt or consider suicide. The culture of perfection, the stigma of mental health, and the increasing impact of social media are all contributing pressures and factors.
Harper Murray
is a star athlete. She is often touted as the most recognizable face in college volleyball. She became one of the most prominent faces for ADIDAS' volleyball marketing and served as an ADIDAS Stadium Captain for the World Cup match between Colombia and Ghana in Kansas City on July 3, 2026. She attended the ESPYs and knows Tom Brady. She makes TikToks with her coaches, teammates and her dog, Zeus. She is still bold and confident.
Advertisement
And she is more than just a volleyball player. She is a young woman using her platform to help others.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, distress, or thoughts of self-harm, support is available 24/7. Call or text 998to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US and Canada). Text HOMEto 741741to connect with the Crisis Text Line.
Today's best reads
This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/volleyball as Nebraska Volleyball Star Harper Murray Shares Powerful Message During Suicide Prevention Month
.
