A standout football player at Rice University, Claire Tracy, was found dead in her off-campus apartment after engaging in a peculiar TikTok challenge known as the “Devil’s Trend.” She had recently quipped about being a “popular loner.”
The 19-year-old sophomore athlete from the University of Texas passed away on December 7th, in an apartment just two blocks from her school, according to reports from KHOU 11.
The exact cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
On the day prior to her passing, Tracy had made three posts on her TikTok account, one of which detailed the so-called “devil trend.”
In her initial post, she told a friend, “I’m doing the ‘Devil’ trend on TikTok. When I say, ‘The devil didn’t reach me,’ you reply, ‘He did.’ I’ll then ask, ‘How?’ and you need to give me the most brutally honest answer based on everything you know about me.” She included a screen capture of this message with her TikTok followers.
Another message from a friend responded with, “You did the work for him. You tapped into your sharp, unfiltered intelligence… You burned yourself out searching for meaning.” It was a profound exchange.
In one of her TikTok videos the day before she died, Tracy addressed the camera, stating, “I accept that there will be no mass lock-in this time.”
The third post of that day depicted her exercising on a treadmill. She humorously noted, “When my mom asks why I’m at the gym alone again on a Friday night… I’ll go crazy if I don’t exercise for at least two hours.”
Originally from Menominee Falls, Wisconsin, Tracy moved to Texas in 2023 to study finance. Rice University released a statement remembering her: “She was a talented athlete who led her high school to numerous championships and had a bright spirit.” She had many friends, they noted.
Tracy was a gifted athlete, leading Brookfield Academy to various championships during her high school career, including a state championship and multiple conference titles. She tallied an impressive 118 goals and 63 assists and was named Player of the Year in the Midwest Classic Conference in 2023.
In addition to soccer, she thrived in cross country, qualifying for state in 2021 and winning a conference championship in 2022 while also achieving all-conference honors.
Academically, Tracy excelled as well, making the honor roll throughout high school, graduating among the top of her class, and being nominated for an All-State Academic Award.
The head coach of the Rice University women’s soccer team expressed heartfelt condolences: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Claire’s friends and family, as well as the many current and former teammates whose lives were touched by her kindness. She will forever be in our hearts.”
