Stanford Honors Katie Meyer With Award and Jersey Retirement

A heartbreaking loss is inspiring real change on college campuses across California.

Stanford University and the family of Katie Meyer, the beloved soccer goalkeeper and team captain who died by suicide in 2022, announced a settlement Monday that honors her memory while helping future students. The agreement transforms tragedy into meaningful action for student wellbeing.

Katie Meyer was 22 and facing disciplinary action when she died. Her father said she was defending a teammate who had been sexually assaulted. On the night of her death, Stanford sent Meyer a formal disciplinary notice that mentioned possible removal from the university.

Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in November 2022, arguing the university acted negligently in how it handled the situation.

The settlement creates the Katie Meyer Leadership Award, which will recognize an exceptional Stanford student athlete every year. Her jersey will be retired to honor her impact on Stanford women's soccer, ensuring her number hangs in the rafters as a permanent tribute.

The Ripple Effect

The real power of this settlement reaches far beyond Stanford's campus. The university agreed to adopt principles from Katie Meyer's Law, which California passed in 2024 in her honor.

The law requires any California college receiving public financial aid funding to provide students with a designated adviser during disciplinary proceedings. No student should face that process alone and unsupported.

Stanford and the Meyer family will also collaborate on a new initiative focused specifically on mental health and wellbeing for student athletes. The pressures these young people face, both on and off the field, deserve dedicated attention and resources.

ESPN released a documentary about Katie's story last year titled "Save: The Katie Meyer Story." Her family's willingness to share their pain has sparked conversations about how universities can better support students during difficult moments.

The settlement includes no mention of monetary terms, but its true value lies in the lives it may save and the students it will support for generations to come.

Katie Meyer's legacy will now live on through the students who receive her leadership award, the athletes who benefit from better mental health support, and every California student who gets an adviser when they need one most.