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For Los Angeles Sparks guard and VIS Mentor Rae Burrell, the journey to the WNBA wasn’t always easy.
Burrell dealt with being cut from teams, being benched, and suffering from injuries, including a knee injury that forced her to spend seven weeks on crutches. Despite these setbacks, one consistent mindset was key throughout her journey: control what you can control.
What to Do When Things Don’t Go as Planned
Burrell knows what it feels like to deal with setbacks that are out of her control. In the first 40 seconds of last season’s opener against Golden State, she went down with a knee injury, which she characterized as “very scary.”
Dealing with that took a toll on Burrell both physically and mentally, but taking it day-by-day and maintaining a positive mindset helped her navigate the challenge.
“It just really also just opened my eyes to be like, ‘you can persevere through these challenges,’” Burrell said. “There's always going to be something that pops up, and the mindset and the way that you respond is the most important thing.”
“There's always going to be something that pops up, and the mindset and the way that you respond is the most important thing.”
Mistakes Don’t Define You
Burrell also believes it is important to not let the fear of failure control you.
One thing that can help is putting trust in yourself and the work you put in. Preparation, Burrell said, gives you the confidence to not be afraid to make mistakes.
Reminding yourself that you aren’t perfect and that mistakes are inevitable is also important. That helps us move on when errors do happen.
Remember Who You Are Outside of Your Sport
Burrell’s goals evolved as she got older and continued her journey in sport through high school, college, and the professional level.
She originally wanted to become a professional soccer player, before deciding to commit to the University of Tennessee for basketball.
“You can change your mind, and that is OK,” Burrell said. “I think just as long as it's making you happy at the end of the day, I think that is the most important thing.”
She also said taking time to relax and take care of yourself is important. When she played overseas in Australia, Burrell had more time for self care, which she said can look different for everyone. For Burrell, self care means getting massages and going in cold tubs. For others, it can mean going on walks or journaling.
Focus on What’s in Your Control
When Burrell got cut her second year in the WNBA, she didn’t let it define her. She couldn’t control getting cut, but she could control the attitude she had and the work she put in, as well as being a good teammate and a good friend. That mindset helped her rejoin the Sparks later in the season on a hardship contract.
The next time something goes wrong, an athlete should ask themselves, “is this something I can control?” If the answer is no, focus on what you can control: your preparation, effort and attitude.
