The Assist

Content warning: This post discusses a depiction of violence against a woman.

After a college football game this month, an AI-generated video circulated online showing ESPN reporter Holly Rowe being slapped. The video was fake, but the harm was not.

Holly Rowe has spent more than two decades covering college sports, and she deserves to do her job with respect, both on the sideline and online. So does every woman working in sports media.

Violent content targeting women should never be shared, laughed at, or brushed off as a joke. Respect in sports has to extend beyond the field. We call on athletes, coaches, programs, and fans to challenge content that normalizes violence against women, whether it's real or AI-generated.

We stand with Holly Rowe and every woman in sports media.

The Assist is looking for a leader to help guide our next chapter. As a survivor-led organization, we work to bring awareness, accountability, and transparency to sexual abuse in sport. Our work is rooted in the lived experience of athlete survivors and grounded in a trauma-informed approach.

We're seeking someone who will center the perspectives of athletes, champion survivor-centered advocacy, and take action against sexual violence in athletics at every level.

If you're ready to lead alongside survivors and allied organizations committed to lasting change, we'd love to hear from you.

🔗 Full details and how to apply: https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/who-we-are/careers/

Sometimes, the way we ask a question can change everything. Connection starts with curiosity, not judgment.

Last week in Denver, Emily Austin, Sr. Policy + Advocacy Specialist, and Kacey Long, Interim Executive Director, led training for the U.S. Center for SafeSport's Communications and Audit & Compliance teams.

Grounded in survivor experience and a trauma-informed approach, our trainings center survivor voice and leadership and are tailored to fit each audience. The Assist provides training that connects to the needs of all individuals, organizations, and communities connected to sport, from language that respects survivors to messaging that reflects real accountability and transparency for athletes.

Learn More: https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/what-we-do/training-technical-assistance-consultation/training/

Take the time you need. Ask for support when you’re ready. Protect your peace. 💚

Abuse can happen in any sport. It can happen in individual sports, team sports, youth sports, college sports, and professional sports.

No sport is immune. That’s why creating safer spaces for athletes has to be a priority across the entire sports community.

Trauma doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some athletes, it might look like anxiety or anger. For others, it might look like shutting down, avoiding certain people or places, or feeling constantly on edge.

There’s no “right” way to respond to something that hurt you. Understanding your response can be a place to start.

Content warning: Violence against women

A recent golf advertisement depicting violence against a woman has sparked widespread backlash and renewed conversation about how violence is portrayed in sports.

Violence against women is not entertainment. It should not be normalized, minimized, or used for shock value.

Sport has the power to shape culture. That means we have a responsibility to question what we see, what we accept, and what we allow to become part of the game.

Violence has no place in sport.

Content note: this post discusses sexual assault

Runner Spotlight: Maria J Castillo 🏃‍♀️

Maria is traveling from Los Angeles to take on the NYC Marathon in support of The Assist and every mile has a story behind it.

As a survivor, Maria has found running to be an essential part of her healing journey, a way to process everything that comes with the experience and to move through it on her own terms. In her words: movement really is medicine, and athletics should be a safe space for everyone.

That's exactly what The Assist works toward. As a survivor-led nonprofit, we provide peer support for survivors, deliver trauma-informed education to teams and organizations, and advocate for stronger protections and accountability across all levels of sport.

Maria's run helps make that possible. Your donation directly supports this mission and helps ensure every athlete can compete safely and confidently.

You can be part of her journey — donate, share, or simply cheer her on. 💙

https://theathletesurvivorsassist.org/get-involved/events/2026-tcs-new-york-city-marathon/

Athletes do their best in environments built on trust, respect, and care. Creating safer sport starts with a simple principle: every athlete has the right to feel safe, not because it helps them perform, but because it's theirs by right.