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How do you feel after being beaten by a statistically worse team? Even the best athletes and teams unexpectedly lose.
However, just because an opponent or opposing team pulled off an upset may not mean you choked in the competition.
Losing to a statistically worse team may be difficult to process, but it is crucial to accept that losing happens in order to keep your confidence high.
This doesn’t mean you skip your post-competition evaluation, ignore mistakes you made during the game, overlook ways you could play better, or disregard how to have a different game plan in the future.
Unfortunately, many athletes get down on themselves after an unexpected loss. An upset loss can lead to excessive disappointment, self-criticism, and self-doubt.
You may start to think that you have lost your touch or that other athletes have improved through the season while your progress has stagnated. You may even attribute early success to luck or that your opponents had bad games.
Whatever the reason, a biased, overly critical self-assessment can lead to a loss of confidence and motivation, negatively affecting your performance in the next competition.
When you experience an unexpected loss, you should view your performance through an objective lens. Are there reasons outside of your control that contributed to the loss?
Again, this doesn’t mean you should shed responsibility or blame someone else for the loss; rather, look for contributing factors.
For example, did your opponent have an unbelievable game, playing well above their statistical average? Was your team short-handed? Were you or a teammate recovering from an injury or illness?
The key is to be objective in your evaluation and identify what you did well, what you need to improve, and what factors were outside your control.
In a 2024 WNBA midseason game, the New York Liberty (17-3) played the Indiana Fever (8-13). New York won the season’s first three games against Indiana, 102-66, 91-80, and 104-68.
Many outsiders expected the Liberty, who had the best record in the league, to dominate the Fever heading into the game. However, Indiana pulled off an upset victory, 83-78.
When Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu was asked about the unexpected loss, she honestly assessed the game.
IONESCU: “We played Liberty basketball, but understanding, this is [Indiana’s] Super Bowl game. We’ve beaten them three times this year already. We knew they were gonna come into this game really hungry, and it’s tough to beat a team four times. It’s just tough in our league, especially with how every team has grown, and especially this young team.”
Ionescu made several valid points… When you are the top team, opponents have extra motivation to beat you. Opposing teams grow and improve throughout the season.
In addition, defeating an opponent in every competition during a season is challenging. Ionescu offered no excuses and followed up her evaluation by stating what New York needs to do differently in future games.
IONESCU: “I don’t think it was necessarily us not playing our style of basketball; it was just understanding that we have to come in with a sense of urgency, knowing it’s not going to be as easy as it was in the first couple games that we were able to go up against them because they’ve just grown.”
To keep your confidence and motivation high after an upset loss, objectively evaluate your game. If needed, ask your coach or teammates for feedback.
Take ownership of what you can control and adjust your game accordingly. Most importantly, never stay satisfied with what you accomplished yesterday.
After an unexpected loss, maintain an objective perspective Remember that a single loss does not define your abilities or future success.
Keep the bigger picture in mind. Determine how you can prepare or play differently according to the game circumstances, then move on and get back to work.
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