COMMITTED

Committed by Bri Nunley: Soccer Adversity, Overcoming Injuries, and Becoming a Leader

• Kate Fitzgerald • Episode 5

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 57:57

In this episode of Committed, Kate sits down with Bri Nunley to dive into the real journey behind competing at a high level and growing through the challenges that come with it.

Bri shares her experience navigating the ups and downs of athletics, from handling pressure and adversity to stepping into leadership roles and staying committed through difficult moments.

She opens up about the mindset required to keep pushing forward, how to stay grounded when things don’t go as planned, and what it truly takes to grow both on and off the field.

This conversation highlights the importance of resilience, self-belief, and learning how to turn challenges into opportunities for long-term development.

If you’re an athlete, coach, or parent looking for honest insight into what it takes to succeed beyond just performance, this episode is for you.

Follow Bri:
Instagram: @bri.nunley

  • To reach out or learn more please visit: https://byndsport.com/
  • Social Media: @committedbykatefitzgerald
  • Substack: @committedbykatefitzgerald
  • YouTube: @kateafitzgerald
SPEAKER_00

Remembering that you are a student athlete. You're not just an athlete at this point. So focusing on that student piece is a big part because that will take you further.

SPEAKER_01

But you've also had a lot of success within NIL. Yes. And you've not even been on the field most of the time. Yeah. And I think that's people don't realize that's a possibility.

SPEAKER_00

NIL, the whole purpose is that you're not getting paid for your athletic abilities. You're getting paid because of your name, image, and likeness, which means who you are as a person off the field, not your accomplishments on the field. When an athlete is enjoying themselves out on the field, that is when you play that so much better. Yes, you are so much better when you actually are enjoying yourself.

SPEAKER_01

What does it really take to make it to the next level in sports? And is it worth the sacrifices? If you could ask a caller pro athlete one unfiltered question about their journey, what would it be and why? And the choices you're making today, the teams, the coaches, the training schedules, the study of the six steps, 30 out of 40. Athlete, female sport leader, and now the founder of two businesses, filter NIL. But none of that came easy. And trust me, most of it was a broad shirt. Hi everyone, and welcome to Committed by Athletes of Duty, a new podcast where we give you the behind-the-scenes stories of athletes, what it takes to play at the next level. And today we have Division I soccer player Bree. She's a soccer player at Arizona State University who has used her platform to become a standout student athlete leader, storyteller, and advocate for equity and mental health well-being across college athletics, has president both the Student Athletic Advisory Council, SAC, and the Empower Program, Breeze Led Initiative centered on inclusion, athlete voice, and building community, helping shift the culture around athlete sport at ASU and across the college athletic landscapes. Off the field, she's built a strong background in strategic marketing, branding, event management, interning with athletic departments and companies to create campaigns that resonate with athletes and fans alike. Her interests lie in using storytelling to elevate sports and impact culture. Her personal mission revolves really around her three pillars: vision, voice, and value, a framework she uses to mentor young athletes and push for positive change across college sports. From injuries to playtime for navigating college athletics as president of stack and everything in between. Please, please help me welcome Bree to the podcast.

SPEAKER_00

Hi everyone. Like Kate said, my name is Bree Nunley. I am a Division I soccer player, but also I like to consider myself way more than just an athlete at ASU. All the accomplishments she listed, very flattering to hear, to say the least. But yeah, above all, I am just a person like everyone else and happy to be here.

SPEAKER_01

We're so I'm so excited to have you here because uh little background, Brie, I think I said this earlier, but she's like a little sister to me. I was in president, was I president when you came in? You were freshman, which is crazy to look back. I feel older now sitting here. But um, it's just incredible to see. I remember one time I think I drove you home one night and you were like, Kate, this is what I want to do, and I have all these aspirations. And it's been incredible to now like you've been accomplishing them and you are just thriving. And I'm so proud of you. And I can't wait to get into your story because it's so inspiring for so many to hear. But before we get into everything you've accomplished within college athletics, let's first talk about how you became a college athlete. So, what was that like? Like, let's take it all the way back to what put you in soccer and how did that evolve to a deeper mission?

SPEAKER_00

Originally, so my mom played collegiate soccer as well. Actually, she played at Oregon State originally. So, soccer has always been a part of my life. I think my favorite story is that when I was three, I asked her to sleep like with my best friend, which was my soccer ball at the time. And she's my favorite person. Like, can I have a sleepover? And as a three-year-old, she like saw me and did a little happy dance saying that I'm gonna play soccer. And from that point forward, soccer was always just a huge part of my life, kind of made up a lot of things I did, drove me through a lot of things, taught those things like dedication, um, and just a commitment to something to continue going further with it. So definitely started with my mom. She had the love of the game from an early age for me, and through that got to where I am now.

SPEAKER_01

That's amazing. So you started early on, and you were like, soccer is my life. This is the only sport I'm playing.

SPEAKER_00

Did you ever diversify and play other sports? Yes, my mom was huge on the fact that you need to be more than just a one sport athlete, and highly recommend that to all athletes across the board. Totally agree.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, you need to help later in life too. Yeah, it helps with everything. It's not just like your skill set for that sport will improve by playing other sports, but just in general. Oh, yeah. Social skills, everything.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, you need to get out of your little bubble and out of your comfort zone and go try those things. So sports for you. Um, honestly, all of them. The only one really I didn't play was volleyball. No more. Yeah, that was it. But I mean, I did dance lessons when I was little. There's photos of me sitting in the corner hating it, but I still did it. Um, I did basketball all the way up into seventh grade, I believe. And so basketball and soccer were always my main two, but I did skiing growing up because I lived in Utah for a little bit. And yeah, pretty much just every sport, honestly. Like I could list them all.

SPEAKER_01

So then when did you kind of hone in on soccer as your sport?

SPEAKER_00

And you switched entirely to soccer. That would be eighth grade. So when I moved to Arizona from Utah, that's when I fully was like, all right, soccer is my pathway. I want to do that. And because at the time, the recruiting process, coaches could talk to you in eighth grade, freshman year. And so middle of eighth grade was kind of when I started getting that looks from coaches, emails, all those types of things. And I was like, all right, okay, this is serious now. I need to lock in on this part.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I've seen that as a pathway amongst not only my own personal story, but other athletes. It's like play multiple sports and then come in when you need to. So, do you recommend that athletes today, you know? I think it's so common that people are like, I'm gonna go into baseball and I'm only gonna do baseball.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Where it's like, you're kind of recommending let's play as many sports as you can. And then when it becomes serious, you can put yes, you know, put the others aside. Like just kind of now what freshman year of high school you'd say.

SPEAKER_00

I'd say around there, especially because all the recruiting rules have shifted, which I think is the biggest blessing for people. Totally. I mean, was such a stressful situation sitting my freshman year English class, not writing my papers, but writing emails to coaches.

SPEAKER_01

Like and also as a freshman, you don't know where you want to go. No, no one who's admitting that as a freshman does have any clue on what's actually they'd want for college.

SPEAKER_00

No, which I'm so happy that World Change came my freshman year because I had the offers right before the World Change was coming and had that opportunity to get those experiences. But at the time, I mean, I thought I was gonna study microbiology and wanted to do all of that. What are you study now? Marketing. Yeah. So um, yeah, definitely not in the realm of microbiology at all. So I thought I want to do that in ASU actually was the school I was gonna commit to my freshman year and had the offer from. But I decided to take advice from a lot of different people saying, wait, if it's still meant to be, it'll turn up the same. And it did my junior year when I was able to commit, I've still got the offer back and committed here and I've loved it.

SPEAKER_01

So it's amazing. So yeah, tell me if you remember a little bit about that as a high school athlete. Like, what was your mindset? What were you thinking? How were you reaching out to coaches? Like, what was that experience for you?

SPEAKER_00

Honestly, it was quite a fun experience. Like, yeah, very stressful, but I'm also someone who I love stressful situations. I think I excel more in it than when stuff is laid back. Yeah, it definitely helps me more. So, as much as it was stressful and everything in it, I had so much fun learning through not just communication styles of how do you talk to an adult in a professional manner, but just writing emails was a simple thing that in eighth grade I had no idea how to write an email and send it properly. Like, who am I emailing at that point? Oh what? Yeah. So it was so cool to learn all of those things. And of course, it's before Chat GPT was a thing. So you actually had to write them yourself. And one of the biggest pieces of advice that I got from someone and encourage other athletes to do is that you write your own emails. Don't have your parents be doing it. Don't hire someone to write your emails, do it yourself because it's personal. The coaches want to know you for who you are, not an image that you're just trying to present. So that would be the biggest piece of advice in that. And yeah, honestly, it was fun. Enjoy it because I look back and I thought that was stressful, and I'm like, I wish I could go back.

SPEAKER_01

Well, because that's something interesting about stress. You said you find it fun. And I can relate to that. Yes. But I think that is a very key factor in how you're able to like find fun in stress. So kind of talk us through like what does that mean? Like when you're a high school 16-year-old athlete and just like student and girl in high school managing all of that, how did you find fun in the stress at that age?

SPEAKER_00

I think it was a lot of the piece of the learning threat. I'm very much someone who I love to learn. Anything new I can take in and grasps is something I see as a challenge. And then how do I get on top of that mountain per se? Totally. And so this was something to me that I'm like, this is the mountain that I need to climb. My goal is to play division one soccer somewhere. How do I get to that piece? And every step of the way is hard as it is and challenging. It's one step closer to your goal. So those little milestones and little victories to the bigger end goal is what was fun to me to accomplish along the way.

SPEAKER_01

It's almost like you looked at it in a sense of people doubting me or the challenges is actually what's motivating me to make it fun and enjoy it. Oh, which makes sense. I mean, that's kind of the mindset of a D1 athlete because day-to-day is not beautiful. No, no, it definitely is like it looks glamorized, but the day-to-day reality of an athlete, especially D1 athlete, but at any level, is a lot of challenges. It's a lot of stress. So definitely that's really good foresight that you have to manage it starting then. So then once you were sending out emails, I mean, do you remember? Like, did you get a lot of rejections? How many no's to yeses did you get? And what was like your approach to contacting a coach?

SPEAKER_00

My approach was being genuinely just myself and who I was because, like I said before, I didn't want to put out that fake front because also I wouldn't want to be at a school that didn't like me for me. So, yes, there definitely was rejections, but the funny part is is in the moment it definitely felt like a big thing, but now I can't even remember the schools that said no or weren't interested because you just you move on. And for every no, there's a yes somewhere else. You just got to find that right school and fit that's for you, not for your best friend on the team, but what's actually works for you. So I love that. Can't really remember the no's, honestly. Like I can remember the feeling of being like, oh, that kind of sucks. But all right, what's next? Like, keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_01

You have a good line. Every no, there's a yes, and you're doing it for you, not for your best friend, not for someone else. Like, you need to pick the school for you. Oh yeah. And so then when you finally finalized on ASU, um, what made you determine this is the school I want to go to?

SPEAKER_00

A big piece of it was academics that they had, the honors college, which I'm in, because that was something that was huge to me. I love school, I love to learn, like I said before. So as much as I was an athlete and definitely then put my identity as an athlete going into college and deciding what school, but school was the academic piece was still always that big component that I wanted to lean in on. And ASU had those offerings and had the academic coach on every Zoom call with me, made sure that I knew about all the available resources between hearing about SAC coming in when I'm a junior in high school trying to commit, and I have no idea what this even is, but they're still presenting it to me and seeing other leaders on the team of stuff that they've done and just these examples of not just athletes, but the human beings behind them was a huge piece of why I wanted to come to ASU and wanted to embody everything that it meant to be an athlete here.

SPEAKER_01

So you said two good points. That one, first of all, what advice do you have to so to an athlete right now who's looking at different colleges? Like, what should they first focus on outside of their sport and within their sport more than just like, you know, playing soccer? It's all those other factors of the team dynamics and the university and where you are. Like, what advice do you have someone who's looking for that right now?

SPEAKER_00

My advice would be focusing on things that one, you're more than just an athlete. Like at this moment, it definitely feels like your sport is your life, your world, and that is completely normal and honestly a good thing because that's where it's got you to where you are now. But focusing on those pieces like the academics, the culture of the team, actually seeing how the girls interact with each other, not just again a fake image that can be put out there on social media, but on your visits, actually looking into and being like, is everyone close to each other? Do people stand off in the corner by themselves? That type of environment. Because as a division one athlete, most people, as sad as it is, get injured at one point or another. And that takes you out of the soccer piece or whatever sport you play, that those other components become the bigger piece to you. So will you still be happy in an environment that you're not playing or doing your sport all the time and can rely on other things too?

SPEAKER_01

There's also the reality that you might not start. Yeah, you could get there and you might not play a game, or even you might start and the next game something happens. Like, oh yeah, so those are really key factors, which kind of leads me to the next question. For an athlete, you talked about your identity being your sport when you were coming in, and it doesn't sound like that's your identity anymore. So, what advice do you have to athletes either currently or like young athletes about their world as their sport? And there's obviously you have to, that's important because it gets you to the next level. But like, what is your outlook now on that?

SPEAKER_00

I think definitely just remembering that you are a student athlete, you're not just an athlete at this point. So focusing on that student piece is a big part because that will take you further. Because there always comes a day where even if you go into pro sports, your body can't play till you're 50. I mean, that's just a given. So focusing on the point that there is life after sports still, no matter how long or short that is to where you are at this moment, but making sure you're prepped for that part of it as well. And yes, focus on the athletic side. So I'm not saying don't be that athlete in yourself, um, but just find other parts to you because you need to. I mean, you are so much more than just an athlete in that. And if you put your soul happiness and who you are to that, like you said, you can't control those factors. A coach could not want to play you, you could be injured, like anything can go wrong in those ways that you gotta prep yourself and be ready for what's next. Totally.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, I couldn't agree more, you know that. Yes. You had a really unique kind of experience at ASU. So when you came in as a freshman, what was your freshman year like?

SPEAKER_00

So, my freshman year, I had a medically red shirt. So that in itself was a very unique and difficult challenge. But looking back, I'm so grateful for it because it helped me get to where I am now. Um, but yeah, third day of preseason, I believe it was, I blew out my ankle. And from then I did not get to play. I tried to come back and play in force to the injury, but I think two weeks of playing, I had to call it quits again after trying to come back and uh was out pretty much until the next season and dealt with more injuries to come after, but was a unique experience in it. The athletic side was incredible for the piece of trying to help me get back the support in it. But really, what helped me was one of the uh people in CSAC or Carson that we call it was Dina. And she came up to me one of the days I was injured and was like, Well, you know, there's there's more to ASU than just soccer that you're playing. Like you can't go on travel trips now. And that's such a harsh reality to see, especially as a freshman.

SPEAKER_01

I mean, I'm 17 trying to look at this, but Dina's open soccer, and you seriously two weeks in blow your knee out, you're barely meeting new players that it's like, or sorry, your ink glass, but oh yeah, you're barely you're just you're trying to navigate meeting girls on the team and navigate friendships, and now you're like, I don't have soccer anymore.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, definitely was rough. I mean, the friendship-wise, it was yeah, two days of training that I had with everyone, and that third day being out in that morning practice. I mean, it's hard to feel like a team member when you haven't been there in the first place. And secondly, you're not on the field, so you're not communicating with them all the time in the same aspects. No one really knows who you are as an athlete yet. They just see you as the girl on the sideline at first. And my teammates were incredibly supportive that that wasn't the reality, but that's how it felt that I was just the girl on the sideline. So, how do you get past that piece and embrace that moment too and become your teammates' biggest cheerleaders? Because that's a part of the sport too. Is again, like you said, injured or just not playing, you've got to cheer those on because it's your team. Yeah. So, how did you do that? You know, a lot of it was the seniors that year. They were incredibly supportive. And the fifth years, the leadership on the team, they came to me individually, would meet with me for coffee, take me out, make sure that I felt still part of that team and would drag me in, even if they could see that maybe I wasn't having the best day. So my team definitely cheered me on in ways that I don't even think they realized by just saying good morning to me while I was sitting and they're warming up. Those little moments are what built up to making me feel like a real member of the team again and wanting to be so involved and they're cheering me on in my own challenges. I want to embrace them and cheer them on in everything they're doing because it is a team. Like that's your family at the end of the day.

SPEAKER_01

And I like what you said about those little moments. I think all athletes listening could really take that to heart of like whether you're the starting team captain, whether you're never gonna touch the field, whether you're somewhere in between, whatever it may be, having there's a role. And you know, people hear that, it's hard to believe, but you just said how true that is. Like just simply saying good morning makes a difference to that person and it it creates a team environment. Because at the end of the day, we're all humans and want that human connection.

SPEAKER_00

Exactly. I mean, those were the biggest pieces. Like that's what my freshman year I look back and I remember those good mornings or high fives when you're on the bench compared to, I mean, even because I never got to really touch a soccer ball or play any minute. So I don't look back at the games, I look back at those little pieces and they build up to something even bigger. Yeah, and now I'm sure you still have lasting friendships going on. Oh, completely. I mean, every year there's a person on the team that I'll still talk to. I mean, even now, the people who graduated a year or two years ago, I'm meeting them with coffee and seeing how they're doing, we're all checking in on each other. It's it's a lasting, I mean, it's a family, like I said. It totally is.

SPEAKER_01

You're you're done, but you're still a part of this ever-evolving. And everyone goes in their own directions of life, and it's so beautiful. And I think, I mean, that's incredible. That's so inspiring. So then what do you have advice-wise? Because in the end of the day, especially for a younger athlete listening, how can they navigate embracing team culture while also being highly competitive and wanting to win?

SPEAKER_00

I would say it's again, like you said, the balance of it, how do you find it is you got to look at yourself and be a good person before just being a good athlete. That obviously you want to be the best athlete you can be, drive that competitiveness in a culture of a team, challenge each other, but have the trust within your teammates that they're challenging you for the right reasons. They're not challenging you to put you down and say you're not doing good enough, but hey, I know what you're capable of. Let's get to that level and push each other in that. But if you are the one who's not starting, you've got to embrace the person who's in front of you and cheer them on when it's game time. When it comes to practice, I mean, do all your best to try to beat them out. Like just make you and the other person. Exactly. Like you're challenging everyone to completely keep going for it. And the competition is a good thing. Some people think it's scary or not good on a team, but that competitive level is what drives teams to championships. And overall, that's all what we want to be as athletes is champions in it. So driving each other to be better every single day and every moment and keeping each other accountable, building that trust within the team is huge and keeps the team going and having that winning legacy. Yeah, that's beautiful.

SPEAKER_01

Well, you said something about being champions, and you've been a champion outside of your sport. You've been a champion for mental health and the just like awareness for student athletes.

SPEAKER_00

So kind of tell me about that. Again, that started with Dina coming up to me and saying, Hey, Bree, you could bleed in power. Like, have you heard of this? And I was like, I have no clue what that is, Dina. Like, what are you even talking about? Because I was in my little bubble of just being a soccer player. And once I got out of that, all these doors started opening and the people I started meeting that I had friendships on every single team across ASU Athletics, not just my own team, which was amazing to have in those friendships. But sometimes you need to get out of that world because you learn so much about the other sports, what they do, and it gives you a different perspective in life.

SPEAKER_01

And so Dina was an academic advisor for ASU Athletics. Yes. Because for those of you listening, like within a college university, you have advisors and different people to. And so Dina came to you as like, hey, here's more. And so through that, you got into the empower program, which is about female athletes and empowering them. So then, in the end, like once you started getting involved in this, like, what does an athlete's voice then mean to you? And how can schools better center that in their culture?

SPEAKER_00

The athlete's voice, I think, is the true heart of the program. And the reason is is because they're the ones who are experiencing day in and day out. The leadership of it and all the coaching staff, everything is so appreciated. Us athletes could not be who we are without them at all. But also the athletes are the ones experiencing it day in and day out. And giving the feedback to others and letting your voice be heard is a way that, again, you create that winning culture within a program because you're constantly trying to make everyone within this program be better. Yeah. From our trainers to our coaches to the academic coaches, all of it. Everyone wants to better themselves every day. That's why you're in sports. You love that competitive environment.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, it's almost like breaking down this like stigma mindset of everyone needs to show up at their best and being like, let's connect with each other and lean on each other's resources. And having athletes say, I'm gonna go talk to my coach, I'm gonna go talk to my advisors, but then having those people be available to talk to.

SPEAKER_00

Completely. Yeah. And that's what I mean, I've been so grateful that my experience there has been everyone outside of yes, the coaching staff, the trainers, the academic coaches, all of them have been present in my life in so many different ways that it's allowed me to grow and see so much more to life.

SPEAKER_01

So outside of that injury freshman year, what are moments that have challenged your identity and how did you push through them?

SPEAKER_00

I think big pieces are also the transfer portal, is so big in college athletics now. So seeing your teammates come and go constantly. And every year it's almost like, oh wow, we're we're restarting again. Like this is a new team. So I think in the beginning, that's hard to let go of those friendships, but not in a way of you're not friends anymore, but just hey, there's new opportunities now, there's new people, and being open to this new environment of a team, especially when you are someone who's there constantly, year in and year out. You see the changes for better or for worse in each ways. But how do you keep making them better each time and accepting those changes to the fact that it's not a bad thing that the team is new? Like this is something to embrace. Let's love it and let's now look at all these strengths that we have that we might not have had last year. So how do you navigate that?

SPEAKER_01

Like what's a tangible kind of checklist or something you do when you when this happens in the new year starting and it's a new team?

SPEAKER_00

One of my biggest things is making sure I talk to each individual somehow personally within the first week of meeting them. It can be a one-minute conversation, five minutes, they could become my new best friend. Any of those things, but just actually reaching out to them, especially if it's freshmen, because freshmen, I mean, you're scared. You're scared. You're like, oh my God, what am I getting into right now? It is such a new world going into preseason, double days, all of it, trying to balance the academics. That for me, especially now being a senior, the biggest thing has been reaching out to those people and making in an effort that I'm going and having an actual conversation with every individual on the team.

SPEAKER_01

So, in that, when you're kind of mentoring them in a way, like what advice do you have other athletes that are trying to get into college athletics and find their voice and find their place on a team where they're trying to navigate this new team and the transfer port? Like, what advice do you have to them?

SPEAKER_00

The biggest piece would be know yourself first. You need to understand who you are, be confident in that. Because if you're not confident yourself, how are you going to be confident in a team environment in general? So you need to know who you are, what you stand for, and have that align with the things that your team is trying to accomplish and get that mission. So, has all of this kind of changed your idea of what success means within a team and just in general? Like what successing do you know? Success to me, I think so many people just focus on that end goal. And that's incredible. Like you want to achieve those moments, but success to me really is learning and the growth through those goals. Like achieving it, yes, that's something you can mark off the checklist. But really, success to me is am I better than I was yesterday? Did I learn something new? Did I improve? Am I a better person because of it? I like that. Like, am I better than who I was before?

SPEAKER_01

It's a constant competition with yourself. Completely. Totally. So then within this talk of success and transfer portal and athletics, did you ever consider the transport?

SPEAKER_00

I definitely did. I think every athlete can say at one point they did. Um, if you're saying you didn't, I think that's a lie. Yeah, I am every athlete saying, I'm out of here. Yeah. And I think looking back, like I didn't transfer for a reason. And it's a lot of in the moment, feelings can become so big. And not playing can be something that's like, oh my gosh, like I'm not playing. This is horrible. What am I gonna do? And you wake up the next day and you're like, I'm I'm still here and life is good. Like it's okay. And that's what I tell a lot of people now is they're like, oh, I played so bad today. Like, I'm not getting on the field, I won't be in the starting lap. I'm like, well, good thing we have a practice tomorrow and the next day, and three more years of it if you're a freshman coming in actually. You're gonna run a lot more. Like, this is not the end all be all. And so I definitely did consider it, but there's a reason that I stayed, and the reasons I stayed outweighed it by far more. And were some of those reasons greater than just the sport? Completely. It was the university, it was the university itself, all of the support staff that I had in it. And I really had to look at that you are more than just your sport was a big piece of it. And especially for me, I think my story is so different because I mean, I've been injured more and not able to play in more games than I've actually been available to play in. Yeah. So when you look at that aspect of it, soccer was completely taken out of it. So that is a component that's not always easy to navigate.

SPEAKER_01

Well, that's so good for people to hear, especially younger athletes, because that is out of your control completely. Athletes can like you, they're type A, you know, most of the time at least with their sport to get at any high level. Yes. And so it's like that is out of your control. You got injured and you've done everything exercise. So it's like that ability to have a community and enjoy where you are, even if the sport wasn't there, is so important during the recruitment process and like in general. With once you get there, don't go to the university and just be like, go to the pro team and be like, all this, that like make a community.

SPEAKER_00

Embrace every piece of it because also, I mean, it creates those lifelong friendships. And you learn so many more life lessons than just looking at who you are as an athlete.

SPEAKER_01

And you meet some really incredible people, everyone has a unique story.

SPEAKER_00

You really do. I mean, that's my favorite thing is meeting people and listening to them because every person in your world that you meet, you learn something from. Yeah, like, and those are even those little minute conversations with my teammates that I try to have, you learn something new. And there's a lot of lessons I've learned from people just with 30 seconds of talking to them. Totally.

SPEAKER_01

So, how have you navigated um being like a very independent girl, friendships and relationships, you know, from every level? Like, how do you navigate that?

SPEAKER_00

A lot of time management is the biggest, and that's in every piece of everyone will say that being an athlete at any level is time management. What does that mean for you? For me, it's a lot of schedules. Um, I am very it is calendar and checklist. I need that in order to stay organized. But in that, just finding out that hey, checking in with the people around me of do you notice I'm not as present? Like asking their advice as well and being open to the criticism in it because sometimes you get so stuck in your world, you don't see that maybe I have been a bad friend. Yeah, or if you're dating someone, maybe I haven't been a good enough partner to your family. I haven't been as present as I should be because I'm so involved in the things I'm doing, and that's incredible. But you need to look outside of just yourself and who's all around you because they in the end are the ones who helped you get to where you are now.

SPEAKER_01

Completely. And it's so important that you don't lose sight of that. Completely, and you're not just engulfed with your sports. So then with all of this, have you ever had a moment which every athlete has? So I know the answer is gonna be yes, with your injuries, especially where you're like, I am just quitting soccer. I'm done. I quit, I don't want to play the sport anymore.

SPEAKER_00

And well, that obviously happened.

SPEAKER_01

So how'd you get through it?

SPEAKER_00

I think it's just the perseverance, Pierce. You just gotta you gotta wake up the next morning and be like, I can do this. No challenge is too big for me to handle. And again, that confidence piece of knowing yourself that this is a hard moment, but it's only a moment. And there's more moments to come that are gonna be so much better, and you're gonna be at the top of that mountain that you just climbed, and it's the greatest victory you ever had because of those little milestones and the growth that you had in the learning. That is how I measure success that I said earlier, but it really is just understanding that this is just a moment of time. This too will pass.

SPEAKER_01

And so, what I think is really unique is you've had a lot of ups and downs throughout your journey, and you've navigated like friendships, the relationships, um, injuries, sport, leadership, but you've also had a lot of success within NIL. Yes, and you've not even been on the field most of the time. Yeah. And I think that's people don't realize that's a possibility. I think people think NIL and college athletics nowadays is like if you're not the starting quarterback, like you're screwed, which is just not true. No, it's not so tell me about that.

SPEAKER_00

NIL, it's been incredible, honestly, to learn as I go with it because I mean, when I got here is when it first started really being a thing. Right. So the amount of different ways that you've had to process deals or go through it and make sure that you still have your eligibility, even though you're making money, has been such an ever-changing landscape, and I think continue will continue to be as we're learning it. And I think just through it, it's really helped me understand legal transactions too in general. You're like, oh wow, I know all this. Yeah, and banking and taxes on it too at a certain point, because you do get taxed on an IL. Like athletes remember that, please. So you do get taxed. It turns a free gift and not cash. Yeah, you get taxed on that. You still get the amount of that gift. Yes, you still get taxed. So through it, I mean, as the years have gone on, I've gotten more into it. And ASU definitely provided a platform that really helped about it with all the different people they had that you could learn from, but also the different apps that you could sign up for, which is like 98 strong and postgame are ones that are really common for athletes to use. And you can just go on and click a deal saying, I want to be a part of it, and it's open to any athlete.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

So those are just easy ones to do.

SPEAKER_01

So, what's a campaign or project you've worked on that really reflects who you are beyond the jersey? And that like is really cool.

SPEAKER_00

The most recent one, and probably my favorite, is the GoDaddy Arrow campaign. I love it. It's been incredible. One at ASU with the incredible opportunity, which uh Kate helped launch. So want to point that out too. Thank you to you because you helped me with this. But to really let athletes create this website or brand to show who they are, what they want to be, and a platform that they can continue to grow. But from that, I then got the amazing deal and partnership to work with GoDaddy Arrow and their team to present who I am outside of just being an athlete. So that has been incredible as well. And honestly, just one of the most amazing experiences from everyone on the team, from the Camp Four productions that did it to GoDaddy Arrow, all of them and everyone at ASU, including Kate specifically, you have all been so incredible and made this journey so easy for me that I'm just grateful. So then what was that like once you got the campaign? And like what was what was the shoot like? The shoot was very time consuming, which was in our contract. So I knew it would be, but honestly, it was so much fun. And that's where the work and the stress again turned to fun. Because yes, you're running from thing to thing, shoot to shoot, you're having to listen to directors, which is an athlete. I mean, you're used to listening to coaches, but you're not used to it's very different that it's if you mess up the clip, no, it is go back and redo it. It's not work through the bad scene.

SPEAKER_01

It's like no fix it.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, like fix this now. So it was definitely a very different environment, but an incredible atmosphere to be around and just showcase who I am outside of yes, I'm an athlete, but what else do I do in that in a bigger screen setting, you could say. And also when I first got the deal, the biggest thing was the contracts. Was this a lot of paperwork with NDAs that you have to sign, but then also just the contract itself of how much are you committing to doing for this company or production, anything that it is, and that you gotta follow through on it. Like you are signing a legal binding document and understanding the value of what that means.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And I think people overlook that because it can be like, oh, let me just do this social media post. But like you, I mean, how many followers do you have on Instagram?

SPEAKER_00

Almost 2,000 now.

SPEAKER_01

So it's not a ton. It's not like no. It's not like you're at, you know, two million followers or you can 20,000 followers on Instagram. So this GoDaddy contract was really because you were able to like, it was your story that aligned with the brand and a company. Completely athletes forget about that. It's like, yes, okay, it's great, you can work through postgame, get Adidas, but there's all these NIL opportunities that like you've experienced even more than the GoDaddy ones, where you've seen success, where it's like I as a person and as an athlete align with this brand's values, and that brings me good an NIL dealer.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, completely. And is that what happened? Yes, that completely is what happened. I mean, they reached out to me through the services and ASU helping provide it, but seeing that it was our like our mission and our voices and our values all aligned together, and that's why we wanted to work together. Yeah, that's amazing.

SPEAKER_01

So, what like kind of moving forward is your next like big goal for NIL? And also with seeing an NIL success, that's not necessarily expected. How do you navigate the friendships on the team? Like, how does that work with team dynamic when maybe you're getting an NIL deal and someone's not?

SPEAKER_00

Honestly, my team has been so incredible. Like, it's they're your biggest fans. You love that. You get a deal and it's just them cheering you on, always supporting you. If you're like, hey, I need an extra like or comment, can you please help me out? Everyone is like, yes, of course, I got you. Like, what do you mean? It's everyone's biggest cheerleader, not just in the sport, but in life in general. So, really, on our team, I've never felt that of criticism or backlash from anyone on my team. It's only been support and like people praising you for it too, which has been awesome. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_01

That's amazing. And so then, what advice do you have then, like moving forward to athletes that are wanting to get involved with NIL, but maybe don't they don't have the big social media following or something isn't like they're not the starting quarterback?

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, for that, I mean, NIL, the whole purpose is that you're not getting paid for your athletic abilities. You're getting paid because of your name, image, and likeness, which means who you are as a person off the field, not your accomplishments on the field. So really honing in on that piece of it and just reaching out to people because the worst thing they can say is no, but in the day, you just made a contact through that. So learning to one network in the real world is something NIL helps with and teaches a life lesson of. But then once you do get those deals and those yeses, really aligning with okay, what ones do I want to do? Because you'll get to a place where there's a lot coming at you and you have to pick and choose and what one do I align with? Because you don't want to just say yes to every brand if it's something you don't actually support.

SPEAKER_01

Totally.

SPEAKER_00

And talk a little bit more about the life skills you've learned through being an NIL. I'd say the networking is a huge piece, which you learn in every part of college athletics, but definitely an NIL has helped that of how when you're the one searching for a deal, how do you network in that to find someone who will align with you? But then also the communication side of it of how do I talk to someone professionally? How do I present myself in a way that they'll look at it and be like, oh, this is someone I'm interested in hearing about? And it's almost like you're in a recruiting job process for this, too. It's they're looking at you as what you're giving them almost as a resume of what you're doing. So it's how do you put yourself in a light that one is positive for them and aligns with their values and tailoring everything to that piece and matching it?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. And what was like going back to your shoe, what was your favorite part of it? Like, what was it like on set?

SPEAKER_00

Honestly, my favorite parts were the moments in between the shooting, like not the acting and everything, like it's fun to try to embrace it, but I will say by no means am I an actor. You're like, yeah, definitely not uh an actress by any means, but the little pieces in between it, I mean, the set was just everyone in the crew was incredible from the people doing the lighting that I have longer nails on and I can't open uh soda cans or anything by myself right now because of my nails. And I felt like the most like, oh my gosh, I don't mean to be pretentious in this, but can you please open this water can? Because all of them had the little, I don't know what it is, but on the soda can where the lid you have to flip up. And that everyone was just so willing to help out in any way and getting to know them too as people that the in-between of being like, oh, what does this lighting do? What does this camera actually do? What is this lens? How is it different from the other one? So you're just learning about this whole industry.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, completely. So have you had any NIL deals or DMs or messages that you're just like, whoa, no, like what happened? Like, can you share about those at all?

SPEAKER_00

I think there's some that it's people that are kind of just it's not that they don't have a ton of following, but they're they don't really know what they stand for in themselves, they're more just reaching out to use your name image and likeness to get their own following, not for what they actually stand for at all. So when I see those, it's kind of like uh I don't know. Like, uh do not respond. A lot of the time I just don't respond because it's a very generic message in it and um copy and paste copy paste.

SPEAKER_01

You can see that. Yes, you can compare it's pretty obvious.

SPEAKER_00

It's the same as when we're sending emails to coaches back to the recruiting. I mean, coaches understand when it's copy and pasted, and athletes see that with the NIL deals as well, especially for people who they don't know what they stand for, they don't know what they're trying to sell, they're just trying to get attention. Yep. So, from those, those are my definite of no, maybe not yet. If you come back and have a little bit more of this is who I am or who we are, and we want to help you represent us, then yeah, I'll be more interested.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's amazing. So then you've balanced so many different areas now. You know, you're playing, you're healed. So you're playing, season's coming up, it's starting. Um, you're a president of stack of empower and leadership, you're doing NIL. Like, how do you, what advice do you have to athletes that are wanting to get into college and like get in all these responsibilities and then balance it all?

SPEAKER_00

I'd say, again, I know it's so repetitive, but that time management piece of yeah, find what works for you. If it's something physical, I have so many friends that they actually buy calendars and have to write out everything in their day physically. That if it's your iCloud calendar with whatever you use. Um, but just find what works for you to keep all those tasks manageable.

SPEAKER_01

I also think it's important to call it like, don't be embarrassed to do it if you like it.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

That's like a huge roadblock people run into. Oh, yeah. They're like, oh, that's weird. It's like, yeah, that's cool. Actually, like it promised you in the long run, yes, you'll be thankful you got it.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, definitely. Being different and unique and stuff is actually a good thing. It's not a weird thing or something to frown upon in any way. I mean, it's brought you and it all deals with involved or something.

SPEAKER_01

There's slavery involved. Yeah, and that's all it takes. And then, you know, it sets you up for like after sport too. Completely. You have those connections, and that's hard at you know, 17 years old when you're coming in to hear and be like, Oh, I want to be involved. Like, no, that's weird. Your other freshmen are like, What's wrong with these? Yes, why are you doing that?

SPEAKER_00

But it's it's cool, it really is. It is, it is the thing that helps you also. I mean, you make more friends that way, yeah. Like people think that you're gonna be weird or something from it. No, I've made so many more friends by being involved in relationships. Like, I would not have known you at all before this if I did not get involved in different ways. Like, yeah, I mean, we're our classes aren't similar at all. Like you're you were a senior when I was a freshman. Like, I think a junior. Junior. Okay, yeah, you were a junior when I was a freshman. And totally different sports, like our paths would have never crossed completely.

SPEAKER_01

And it's almost like I think the people at first, I always say the people at first who might like think it's weird or be like judging you for getting involved or you know, putting yourself out there for NIL, whatever it may be, they always circle back and are like, wait, how'd you get that? How'd you definitely help me, please? I really need to talk to someone. And you're like, Yeah, I mean, always show kindness. Oh, yeah. The world's small, yes. Everyone knows everyone. Yes. Um, but I think that's a huge roadblock for athletes.

SPEAKER_00

It definitely is, and seeing that there's so much more to it. I mean, not only do you you can get cool deals, yes, but that's not why I ever got involved in the first place. It's really just to be something more than yourself, be in a community, outreach. And it helps you see when you do get in your lows of your own world, you get to be around other people and they bring you back up. It's probably made you a better athlete too.

SPEAKER_01

Like completely better at soccer because your world's not soccer.

SPEAKER_00

No, it definitely has. And I mean, that's even going into each season now when I set my goals and do those things. They used to be, oh, I need to do this many passes forward, I need this many goals or those type of things. Now it's more focusing on the things I fully can control. And it's the have fun, embrace every moment. This won't last forever, yeah, which is a sad truth. And above all, just control the controllables. So if I can make that good pass, I'm gonna do it. But I also don't dictate when I get the ball. So having a certain number to that, yes, it's very good. But for me, what I found works better is focusing on what I really can control in myself.

SPEAKER_01

That's really interesting. I'd love to break soccer down more because it's like, yes, you know, in in beach volleyball, it's I can make X many, like so many serves. Like, you know, there's certain metrics, but in soccer, that's not necessarily true because you don't know when you're getting the ball. So, how do you navigate that mental health as a player?

SPEAKER_00

With it, I just my saying always is control the controllables. I mean, when anyone asks me, that's completely my go-to for it. And yes, I think you still should set if you're a forward, get X amount of goals in the season. That is an incredible thing to have. Do not limit yourself in that by any means. But for me, what has just worked personally is when I got so caught up in those pieces, I focused so much on those individual goals and not the bigger picture that I started messing up more because I got so stressed and freaked out and thinking, oh my gosh, I'm so far away from this goal. Like, what do I do next? And that in the game, I couldn't actually just enjoy it and have fun because when an athlete is enjoying themselves out on the field, that is when you play that. So much better. Yes, you are so much better when you actually are enjoying yourself. And so for me personally, and it doesn't work for everyone, but that's what I found is when I focus on that piece of the game of enjoying it, the soccer follows.

SPEAKER_01

So you're like when you're able to focus on like this is just fun, I'm enjoying this, like I play better a role. Like, what advice do you have to a parent who's putting their kid into sports right now? Like taking away someone who's putting their kid into soccer, and they're like, Okay, you know, they they talk about being a college athlete, their son or daughter really loves the sport. Like, how should their parents navigate that?

SPEAKER_00

I would say focus on the love of the sport because when these workouts come in preseason that you have two-days, if you don't love the sport, oh yeah, you are not getting through it. I mean, it is hard, it's brutal, it's demanding, and that's such an amazing thing. It makes you a better person, a better athlete, but you have to have love for the sport or else you can't keep going forward. Because if you're just completely unhappy doing it, I mean, your progress is gonna go down, your body is not gonna want to function the way it's supposed to, all of it. So, really to even because I do train younger kids now and help mentor them. The parents, when they come up to me asking for, oh, my son or my daughter needs to do this better and beat the player better. I kind of just look at them like there's seven-year-olds out there, like right now, they don't need to be focusing on that. What they need to be focusing on is the love of the game that they're able to exercise, making the friendship.

SPEAKER_01

Exactly. Learning, okay, how do I kick a software ball? Like, not oh yeah, like you will get to the nitty-gritties.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah. Definitely like have that focus in it, but don't make it your whole being in it. Like, you want to focus on the little pieces and get better and strategize, but you can't have that be your only goal in it because by the time you get to high school or college athletics, you're gonna be so burnt out in it and you won't love the game. Totally. And then what's the point of that? Because you're not gonna be living a life you love. That's not a life you want to live.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, and I mean that even circles back to why you should play multiple sports. Oh, yes, no, definitely. Like it, there's so many pieces to it. So then completely how what advice that's advice to your parents looking back at maybe your 17-year-old self right now or 15-year-old self, right before stepping onto campus and stepping into this world, like just even maybe even before recruitment, before you committed days to you, like what advice do you have to those players?

SPEAKER_00

Enjoy it. I mean, I'm gonna keep saying it, but just enjoy those moments. And the little in-betweens because it goes by so fast. Like the fact that I'm a senior now is just, whoa, how? Yeah. Like, how did that even happen? It seriously is. But just enjoying those moments and that there's always another game the next day. There's another practice when you're that young in your career. And if you're really wanting to move it forward and keep playing, there'll be more opportunities and see those mistakes or when you get so down on yourself as that area that you can grow in the game and who you are because that's where you learned. And the next time you get back to that, you're not gonna make the same mistake, really. Like you learned from it.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, totally. And you talked also a lot today about like your injuries and navigating that. So, like, what advice do you have to someone who's going through an injury right now and it's just unexpected? And every time they get better, it just crashes back down again. And you don't know, you know, you're navigating this world. Like, what advice do you have to that player?

SPEAKER_00

Don't give up hope. That is the biggest thing, and it's the hardest thing too. Totally. It is definitely the hardest. But surround yourself with people that when you can't be your own cheerleader, they can help you on too. And that was something that definitely helped me when I was so down in the dumps and couldn't get myself out of it. It was really those around me that helped me be like, you know what? I can keep going. There is hope, and you just gotta look a little bit harder for it sometimes. But it always does turn out better.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. So then what advice do you have lastly to the coaches? Like the coaches listening. If your if your coach was listening, or if any coach is listening, like what advice do you have to them about how these athletes are actually thinking and just in general, advice for coaches?

SPEAKER_00

I'd say understand them as people too, not just as one of your athletes or another number on a roster. Really get to know them for who they are, because then not only can you help push them in the way that actually motivates them, but it creates an environment that people want to show up to every day. When you have a coach that every morning is telling you good morning and wants to see you and seems genuinely excited to be there and around you, it makes everyone want to work 10 times harder because it has that trust and the respect for that coach. So, yes, you want to understand them as an athlete, watch as much film as you want of them, know how they play. But above all, if you really want someone to work for you and it goes to any team setting, you need to know who they are as a person and what pushes them to that next level.

SPEAKER_01

And I think people overlook how much coaches actually impact an athlete's mental health completely. And like so many resources are available for an athlete's mental health, but it's the the people that are there day to day, it's the teammates and the coaches. That's where mental health comes from.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, completely. So to have that supportive environment is something you need. So as a coach and a teammate, just being your whether a good person. Yeah, just be a good person.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, just be kind, be kind, be a good person. And recognize why people are there. You know, some athletes are don't don't want every, you know, life advice. They're like, just help me play my sport. Exactly. And other athletes are like, please, I need life advice. But you know, learning to navigate those relationships and understanding what a person's needs are and why they're there completely is crucial.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, yes, completely. I mean, understanding people's whys and what motivates them, that's what gets a team to have that winning culture and just that understanding of a human level, who are you? Yeah, I've totally found that it then translates into the real world completely.

SPEAKER_01

After you're yeah, those are those life skills, right? We already talked about after you learn a lot of life skills. Yes, I do. So then moving forward, what do you see changing in the world of college athletics over the next few years? And do you see yourself playing a role in that, especially female sports? Because there's a lot of discrepancy around female sports and NIL and all these things. So, like, what's your opinion on all that?

SPEAKER_00

I think the biggest thing is that it will become more equal among both sports. I think already women's sports are getting more highlighted than they used to be. I mean, if you look back 10 years ago, soccer games were not filled in stands at all. And now we actually do get a good crowd, and they're nationally televised games that people do tune in and listen and respect in different ways and want to be there to see it. So I think the game is going to keep growing across all of female athletics, and as long as people keep sharing their stories and who they are and why they're there, and that you do work just as hard as your male counterparts in every sport, no matter what you play. So I think that will be a big difference. And I I'm excited to see it. I can't wait that if I do have little girls one day to see them out on the field and supporting them and what they do. You hope and they play soccer. I hope they just enjoy whatever they do, honestly. It to me does not matter if they're gonna be in band, any of that. Like, I just want you to be happy as a kid.

SPEAKER_01

And so when talking about kids in sports, maybe like you said, your coaching, what's always the message you try to leave to your kids that you're coaching?

SPEAKER_00

Just to be better the next day. Always better yourself. Go to bed each day thinking, okay, what did I learn today? What do I get from that? And how do I move forward with it in a positive manner and support those around you while you are supporting yourself in that too?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's amazing. And so then, last main question kind of we were looking at your website. You have your GoDaddy arrow. And um, on there, you're talking about three key pillars your vision, your voice, and your value, and how that's guided you through the chaos of the student athlete life. Like how have those three pillars shaped you?

SPEAKER_00

A lot of it, vision is who you want to be, and so focusing on that in goal, yes. Your voice of speaking up for what you stand for and making yourself known for that too. And your values of just morals as a human being. Who are you? And how do I embrace those morals and use that voice to share them with others to then again get to that in vision of the goal of who I want to be. So, through that in athletics, I think it's just led me each day to be be a good person. Like we said before, I mean, remember those three pillars and use them to your advantage and help everyone around you. That's amazing. That's amazing.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, well, I would like to get into a little bit more of the parent advice section, okay, where we ask some questions around recruitment. We had one, some we've had some people write in questions. And one of the questions I want to ask you is like, what type of players do you think a coach is really looking for? Are they focused more on your just if the player is good at their sport, or do you think that like the idea of being a well-rounded player is important?

SPEAKER_00

I think the well-rounded player piece is definitely important. I mean, coaches, when they come to watch you, first they see you by your film. So your skill is what gets a coach to come and see you and want to know who you are as a player. But these coaches, they're gonna be around you all the time. They also want to know that you are a good person on top of a good player. Totally. So they're watching you that if there's cones to be picked up, if you just leave them and say, yeah, someone else is gonna do it, they're seeing those actions. Are you someone that helps a player up when they get put down? And those types of little moments that make you that better person, better player in the overall scheme.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I completely agree. You know, they're looking, they're looking at what you do not playing. Yes, looking at all the side completely that you have completely and then what do you think makes a coach really say then I want that person on my team?

SPEAKER_00

I think if the player one aligns with whatever the coach is playing style, what they need in that year, because the thing is too, you could be one of the most incredible players, but if that coach already has, let's say, a center forward in soccer for the next three years, they might not be looking at you just because they aren't looking at that position. Says nothing about you as a person or a player, but just the fact that their team does not need that asset right now. So understanding that piece in it, but really a coach, what will solidify is if that is there, that they need you on the roster for that spot in your position, if you're skilled enough and can help the team be better the next day. But on top of it, are you good off the field? Because you want a culture that is incredible, a winning environment, a positive, just people want to be there.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's amazing. And what do you wish more parents or high school coaches understood better at the time?

SPEAKER_00

I think just the level that comes with being a student athlete, especially at the division one part of that it is so much more than just you have practice every day. Yeah. Oh no, you have practice, but right after practice, you have weights. And after weights, you need to hit the showers and get to class right away. Sometimes you don't even have enough time to shower. But on top of that, balancing the homework piece with it and how you're showing up to class cover and sweat and everyone's like, what? Oh yeah, but she just walk in completely. And I think it's something that you don't fully understand until you are in that position, and that's completely reasonable to not understand it. But trying to get a grasp of that, that this is so much more than your sport at this point because you're not only physically tired, but you are mentally so tired from the classes all day, the people you're meeting. I mean, think back to your college experience parents out there, like what was your like? And if you weren't a student athlete, it's gonna be completely different than a student athlete's. Yeah. So, I mean, we can't just go out on a weekend and party because it sounds fun. Like, yeah, we got practice at 6 a.m. the next day.

SPEAKER_01

And then navigating those friendships, you know, making sure that people understand, like, sorry saying no. Yeah, the ability to say no. Oh, yes, you have to learn that skill. Oh, yeah. And know when to say yes, know when to say yes when people think you should say no. Probably say yes then, and in times you think you should say yes, probably say no. Exactly.

SPEAKER_00

Just being that confident in yourself again.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, I love that. Okay, now we're gonna get into just a couple questions that are like funny moments and then a rapid fire session. Okay. So, first of all, think back what is like the funniest or craziest team locker room or like bus ride story you have that you can share.

SPEAKER_00

I would say one of the girls in my class, her name is May. Um, shout out May on my team. Love that girl, but she always would do a pregame dance for us. Um, there's always that one teammate that is so outgoing and loves to just oh yeah, like just like have a good time, be so joyous. And those moments are seriously some of the ones I look back on. I'm like, you made such a stressful situation of going into game time, have a little bit of fun before it and relax and be able to just enjoy the people around you and get you hyped at the same time to go out there and kick whatever team's butt is over there. Like, she just made it fun.

SPEAKER_01

She really did. Yeah, that's always a theme. It always reverts back to function. It does. It always reverts back to just have some fun in life. Yes, it does. Okay, we're gonna get into a little bit of a rapid fire session and ask some questions. So, what is one habit you credit most for just like surviving through transition that is not rapid fire? Um, I would say resilience. I love it. I love it. Okay, your team locker room energizer when things feel heavy. May. Dancing. Yes, dancing. May. Sorry. Yes, dancing. A book or quote or mantra that keeps you grounded when things get hectic.

SPEAKER_00

There's always tomorrow. There are no, but is it? I don't know if I like that how it's worded though. Because it's like I don't want people to think like, oh, you can do it tomorrow, you know.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, yeah, you know what you're saying. It's more like there's always like if today was rough, like tomorrow's a new day.

SPEAKER_00

I'll just do control the control bowls because I use that in everything. Okay, so it's way easier.

SPEAKER_01

I like that a lot. So then what's your go-to hype song before the game? Oh gosh, I don't have one. That's fine. Yeah, I actually have met a lot of athletes don't have one. I didn't have one. Okay, I was like, but then some people like our diehard for their hype songs.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, no, I it's whatever's on in the locker room. Like, I'm fully.

SPEAKER_01

You're just like, I'm gonna get in right here, right now. Okay, so then are you an early bird or asleep late? Early bird, definitely. Okay, your dream NIL collab, be bold. I would say Viore.

SPEAKER_00

I I love their clothes. Viori can get so many athletes going on.

SPEAKER_01

I have no idea. Every athlete wants to work with Viore. Yes. You would do great. Definitely. Um, what teammate is most likely to go pro for something other than sports?

SPEAKER_00

I'd say my roommate too, Ava, she's definitely gonna be a huge like doctor someday out there and like she's just killed it. Oh, yeah, top surgeon. Like that girl's gonna kill it.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, I love it. I love it. If you could switch sports for a day, what sport are you trying?

SPEAKER_00

Beach volleyball, actually. Really? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Oh, continue. Please okay, a couple more. What's one thing in your locker bag that has just no business being there?

SPEAKER_00

An inhaler from junior year. Yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. Yeah, an inhaler from when I was sick, like junior year or sometime. Yeah, great, great.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. What's the most underrated leadership skill? Listening.

unknown

Yes.

SPEAKER_01

I'm still working on that one. Most people are. Yeah, I feel like everyone is. Okay. And then last one, what does committed while you are off duty mean to you?

SPEAKER_00

Committed while off duty to me is just being true to yourself. I mean, every day practice what you preach. If you're saying that you're doing it, actually do it. Follow through, be the person. Yeah, walk that. Like be who you are and be proud of that. But also don't just say stuff to say things, actually. People can practice it. Oh, completely.

SPEAKER_01

Especially as you get older.

SPEAKER_00

You can read through it right away. So be confident and true to who you actually are.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Embrace it, mind who you are.

SPEAKER_01

Well, amazing. Well, thank you so much for taking the time to come down here and do this. I had so much fun. And I think you gave a lot of valuable insights to everybody. Yes. And so, what is um, how can someone reach you through Instagram or something if they there's an athlete who wants to learn a little more?

SPEAKER_00

Please, anyone reach out, parents, athletes alike, everyone. Um, my Instagram is Brie.nunly, so super simple. You can DM me there, I'll see it and I'll give your reply. Yes, it is N-U-N-L-E-Y. So, yeah, please reach out anytime. I'm here to help anyone and everyone, and just want to see you guys all do great.

SPEAKER_01

So amazing. Well, thank you so much for coming here. Everyone, please go follow Brie and follow her story. She's going into her senior season, and so it's the last run for Brie. Are you doing fifth year? No. Okay, didn't think so. We're done. She's like, No, I love my sport, but I'm ready.

SPEAKER_00

I love it, but I'm yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, I'm ready. Amazing. Well, everyone, please go follow Brie, follow her story, and um, I'm really excited to see how you do this year and just everything you accomplish after sports. So thank you again. Um, tune in every week. We are dropping Athletes Off Duty's committed podcast every week. So tune in wherever you get your favorite podcast and think about what it means to be committed while you're off duty in your day today. Thank you. Thank you.