The Stud Budz are on a mission to inspire women and girls to refuse being sidelined by their menstrual cycles. WNBA stars Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman made a bold statement by dyeing their hair "period red," proudly displaying their vibrant new looks on the basketball court on September 9 as their team clashed with the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. "Periods shouldn’t hold you back in sports. It’s a mantra we live by," the duo declared on Instagram as part of their collaboration with U by Kotex. "Play on your period with U by Kotex for unbeatable protection."
Donning matching smocks emblazoned with the words "I play on my period," Courtney shared in a video that she embraced the partnership with the menstrual hygiene brand partly out of a desire to "do whatever it takes to make women feel more at ease." "Just being in the spotlight we’re in, as two Black, athletic women," the 31-year-old added, "that alone is powerful representation." But the impact goes deeper. "We have moms on our team juggling basketball and motherhood," Courtney remarked, "It’s been incredibly inspiring."
Inside the Lynx locker room, "period talk" is par for the course, Natisha noted, adding, "We’re completely comfortable discussing it." The dynamic duo behind the Stud Budz Twitch channel are on a quest to normalize such conversations. "We want women, young girls, to see this representation and understand that periods are a natural part of life," Courtney told People in an interview published on September 10. "We all experience it. We just want to reassure young girls to keep playing sports."
The 28-year-old Natisha and Courtney received an outpouring of support for their hair makeovers from fans, Lynx Assistant Coach Rebekkah Brunson, who exclaimed, "Empowerment!" and fellow WNBA star Angel Reese, who chimed in with, "My little period squad." The Chicago Sky power forward is among a growing number of female athletes who have openly discussed the challenges of competing in basketball while menstruating. "Having those conversations is tough. I mean, I’ve had my share of mishaps, like sprinting to the locker room mid-game," Angel, then a college basketball player for LSU, recounted to VIBE in 2023. "They’re like, 'Go change your shorts, Angel.'"
"Sometimes, in the heat of the game, I can’t just pause and change my tampon," she continued, "But when we get a timeout, my sisters—my teammates—they’re always there to check in and make sure we’re okay."
