5 Things Cotie McMahon Does to Stay Confident While Competing

Ohio State's Cotie McMahon has a long list of impressive accolades—Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All-Big Ten First Team, four-time gold medalist for USA Basketball, Cheryl Miller Award finalist, and most recently, back-to-back AP All-American Honorable Mentions. Now, she's leading the Buckeyes toward another race to the championship in the 2025 March Madness tournament.

But something that doesn't show up on any of the stat sheets? The confidence she exudes on and off the court. "I feel like I really have that dog in me," McMahon tells Well+Good—which to those unfamiliar with the phrase, basically just means a mentally tough, resilient, and determined mindset.

We chatted with McMahon to learn what keeps her competitive spirit and self-belief high, no matter if she comes home with a win or not. Here are her top five tips.

She doesn't let stress overwhelm her

It's no secret that athletes can sometimes feel pressure to perform, especially during high-stakes games. Whether it's coming from their internal standards for themselves or expectations from their coaches and fans, it can be easy to succumb to that pressure.

Not for McMahon, though. When McMahon steps on the court, she enters her safe zone—the place where she can truly be herself and thrive; any stress that she might be carrying from the day melts away. "My first instinct is not to stress at all, and I never result to it either," she says. For McMahon, basketball has always been about joy. Of course, like any athlete, she wants to win. But, she reminds herself that letting loose and cherishing the moment are just as important, too.

She never dwells on the past

Ever remember a mistake you made that you couldn't shake off or an embarrassing thing you did as a kid that you can't stop cringing over? Yeah, we've all been there. But dwelling on the past keeps you, well...in the past. So when McMahon has an off night or her team loses a game, she acknowledges her feelings and quickly lets them go.

"I never sit and dwell with a loss. I just feel like that opens up an opportunity for error," she says. Instead, she finds it helpful to learn from those experiences and apply that knowledge to the next game in front of her. "If we have a game where everything didn't go as planned or we struggled, I remind myself and my teammates that we gave it our all. We take it on the chin and move on to the next."

She celebrates her successes and builds on them

McMahon's love for the game started at an early age—and her skillset continued to grow just as fast as her passion. Just ask Xavier University, who offered McMahon her first NCAA Division I scholarship when she was in just the seventh grade. Every time she was rewarded for the tireless work she put into her game created a snowball effect, making her stronger and more confident in her abilities.

That remains true even throughout her college career. After a monster first season playing for the Buckeyes, McMahon was voted as the 2023 Big-Ten Freshman of the Year by the coaches and media. She recalls how that moment instilled more belief in herself. "Coming into your freshman year, you don't really expect to get as many accolades as I did, and I'm so thankful for them," she says. "I've always been confident in my game but seeing everything work out and pay off really boosted my confidence."

Now as a junior, McMahon has stepped up to take a leadership role on her team and is inspiring her teammates to carry that same confidence within themselves. Her fervor for basketball, loud and joyful personality, and commitment to improvement and accountability keep her teammates motivated and energized to become better together.

She takes rest and recovery seriously

Being a full-time student and full-time athlete while balancing your personal and social life can feel like a lot. McMahon balances it all out by ensuring her mind and body are getting the rest they need to perform at the highest level. "Being a D1 athlete in general can be so stressful," she says. "So with as much free time as I have, I usually just relax, find time to be by myself, and let my body rejuvenate."

Even on her days off from practice and games, she takes a few hours of her day to still hit the gym. But when she gets back? "I literally go back home and get straight into the bed for the rest of the night," she says with a laugh. That's advice we can all use more of, I'm sure.

She makes happiness a priority

Despite her busy schedule, making time for self-care and joy is not lost on her—and she's very intentional about having fun. "Basketball is serious, but I don't take things too seriously," she says. "I love to laugh, have fun, and take care of myself." Before games, her routine often consists of scrolling on TikTok (or making her own videos, which you can watch here), taking a shower, and listening to gospel music.

But when she's at home, she has an entirely separate wellness routine that she lives by. "My self-care always includes having my hair, nails, lashes, and brows done," she explains. "I also love getting massages and watching TV." Some of her favorite shows right now include Paradise, Severance, The Vampire Diaries, and Virgin River—in case you needed suggestions of what to add to your own queue.

McMahon insists that when you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good, you do good. "I feel like so many things can be stressful nowadays, but finding a wellness routine for yourself doesn't have to be," she says. "So, build good habits that make you feel positive, present, stress-free, and happy. That's what I do to stay in a better place mentally and be comfortable with myself on and off the floor."