Unique Superstitions in Sports

Superstitions among athletes are hardly a new phenomenon. For instance, in the ancient Olympics, competitors had various rituals, like putting on their left sandal first or eating a set number of olives before their events.

However, Texas Longhorns softball player Hannah Wells has a superstition that’s quite unusual.

I’ve heard about ladybugs being considered lucky, but consuming them for good fortune? That’s a new level of belief, to be honest.

In a recent promo shared by ESPNW for an upcoming Longhorns softball game—where the team aims for a spot in the national championship—Wells mentioned a childhood habit of killing ladybugs for good luck.

This isn’t exactly a novel concept, but it does raise some eyebrows.

So, how do you feel about this? If something goes wrong, do you really want to eat your favorite insects?

I can’t say I’ve ever encountered this before, but consider the potential consequences. What if eating a ladybug led to unfortunate side effects? Picture this: you eye a ladybug, glance around to ensure no one’s watching, eat it, and then think about buying a scratch-off lottery ticket.

If everything goes well, you might get lucky, but let’s be real—the worst case could just involve losing a bit of cash and getting an extra dose of protein.

I mean, I once had a mezcal shot served with crickets at a Mexican restaurant (probably intentional), and surprisingly, it wasn’t bad at all. Still, not a ladybug, and I can imagine it might feel a bit risky if I had to step up to bat in a casual softball game.

This week, the Longhorns triumphed over Tennessee, moving on to the Women’s College World Series where they will confront Texas Tech.

The series kicks off this Sunday, and I can’t help but think—Texas Tech better hope no ladybugs make an appearance in their dugout.