The stakes in March are unbelievably high.
The West Virginia women’s basketball team may have found a secret weapon to help power them through the toughest moments: lemons.
Something I’ve never seen before… the WVU starters are eating lemons on the bench before being announced.
Anyone know why? pic.twitter.com/V1JFXPoe9R
— Melissa Triebwasser (@TheCoachMelissa) March 8, 2026
As a team, the Mountaineers each eat a lemon wedge before games. At first glance, it seems odd, but the reasoning is actually an incredible idea for improving mental preparedness.
Not sure it’s this, but eating lemons has been shown to help with nerves and anxiety. Kinda shocks the system into being in the moment versus in your head.
— LizaK (@Liza0311) March 8, 2026
an old trick to wake up the system mentally. can’t say I’ve seen a team collectively do it on the bench before and not the locker room. whatever works, works! https://t.co/rXMRHifroX
— Shelby Hilliard (@ShelbyCHilliard) March 8, 2026
Cramps and jolts the system…basically natural more mild “smelling salts” but without the ammonia
— MrRenaissance🏁 (@Mr7Renaissance) March 8, 2026
Say what you want, but the trick has worked for the Mountaineers, who won the Big 12 title game against top-seeded TCU on Sunday and are NCAA Tournament-bound.
Somebody handed them lemons. They’re just trying to make lemonade
— Smash House Brewing (@smashhousebrew) March 8, 2026
Will we see more teams adopt this pregame snack?
