WINNING HER WAY

WINNING HER WAY
'Creating Change Beyond the Game'
Exclusive Interview with Dr. Santia Deck
Conducted by Allié McGuire

​Santia Deck doesn’t just break records—she breaks barriers, builds businesses, and redefines what it means to be a modern athlete. From her days as a collegiate track star to becoming the highest-paid woman in professional football, and now a founder, author, and advocate, her journey is as dynamic as it is disruptive. In this conversation, we talk about what sports taught her, what success means now, and how she’s using her platform to create space for other women to rise.

ALLIÉ: Let’s start here, Santia. Before the contracts, the companies, and the millions of followers—there was a girl on the track who wanted to prove something.

SANTIA: Absolutely.

ALLIÉ: When you look back now at that moment—at that girl—what do you think sports unlocked in you that changed the course of your life?

SANTIA: I love that question. I’d say it gave me the ability to persevere, to handle trials and conflict, to work within a team, to understand leadership, and to sometimes put other people’s needs ahead of my own. It taught me humility, too. I owe so much to that little girl who started at five—not knowing what world she was stepping into. All I knew was I wanted to be as fast as a cheetah. I never imagined it would lead me here today. I’m just grateful.

ALLIÉ: And that’s a big word—humility. Sports is certainly steeped in it.

SANTIA: Absolutely.

ALLIÉ: You’ve broken records, launched brands, and built platforms. But I imagine some of the most important things you’ve built came from moments no one saw. So, when it comes to your character, Santia, what did being an athlete build in you—specifically you?

SANTIA: Wow. These are great questions. I think my journey through sports was… unique. I was very good—sometimes maybe too much so—because I was laser-focused on my end goal. Back then, that goal was to be an Olympian. If something didn’t align with that, it was a distraction, and I cut it out. I even ended friendships in high school because I felt they were pulling me away from the Olympics.

That focus became one of my strongest traits, and it’s still with me today. If I have a goal, that’s where all my attention goes. Anything outside of that just isn’t a priority, and if I have to cut it off, I will. I was also the kind of kid who didn’t understand procrastination—my mom loved that. I knew that if I wanted to go outside and play with my friends, I had to get my work done. Sometimes I’d work weeks ahead just so I could enjoy that time without worrying about homework. I was always doing extra, studying harder, and making sure every assignment was finished early.

There’s a good and bad side to that. The bad side is not knowing when to stop—when to tell myself, “You’ve done enough.” I’m always looking at the goal. But in business, that drive has been a huge asset. If I want something, I’ll find a way to get it, no matter what it takes. That “do or die” mentality from sports carried over into my entrepreneurial life and built this relentlessness in me. I understand what it takes to reach a goal, and I’ll do it—even if it comes at a cost.
But I’ve learned rest is important too. My husband has been a big influence there. He’s taught me to breathe, unwind, recover, and then apply what I’ve learned before jumping back in. As entrepreneurs—especially women entrepreneurs—I think we often feel like we have to prove ourselves by doing more and more until we burn out. I’ve burned out several times, both as an athlete and as a business owner.

I’ve had to go back and talk to that younger version of myself—the one who believed in going harder, faster, stronger. I tell her, “Yes, that mindset was drilled into you, but it’s okay to rest. It wasn’t okay then to ignore it, and it’s not okay now.” Coaches rarely emphasize recovery and rest, but it’s just as important as training. Now, I make myself take walks, step away from the computer, and take a few hours off when I need to.

So, yes—I may have gone on a little rant—but what I’ve really carried from sports is that relentlessness, that resilience, and the ability to focus. Those are my biggest takeaways.

ALLIÉ: I think little Santia and little Allié need to take a walk together and just relax.

SANTIA: Yeah.

ALLIÉ: Because little Allié doesn’t pay attention to all that—and she needs to listen up. Okay, let’s talk about Winning Her Way. You’re creating a space for female athletes to be seen, heard, and—big word here—valued.

SANTIA: Yes.

ALLIÉ: Valued not just as players, but as people… people with power. What fueled that mission for you? Because it’s one thing to make your own mark—but what made it important for you to help other women make theirs?

SANTIA: It actually started during an interview I did with a former NBA player. He asked me what I thought needed to change in women’s sports for it to move forward. I went straight into storytelling—because I believe it’s everything.

We all know the big names: Serena, Simone Biles, Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese. But there are so many more incredible athletes—in Nigeria, Vietnam, and all over the world—who are just as amazing, but don’t have the platform. The truth is, if I don’t know who you are, I can’t be a fan. I’m not buying your merch, I’m not coming to your games, I’m not sponsoring you—because I don’t even know you exist. You can’t have five or ten athletes carrying all of women’s sports. We need more stories, more visibility, more opportunities for people to connect with these women.

In men’s sports, you can know everything about an athlete—where they were born, their star sign, what their parents did. With women’s sports? That’s rare. Outside of Serena Williams, whose story we know thanks to a recent movie, I couldn’t tell you much about the parents of Simone Biles, Juju Watkins, Angel Reese, or Caitlin Clark. And if I can’t relate to you, if I can’t see myself in you, it’s harder to become a fan.

So I explained all this, and he just laughed and said, “Nobody cares about women’s sports.” That lit a fire in me. I thought, “Be the change you want to see.” That’s when Winning Her Way was born.

I started interviewing amazing female athletes from all over the world—different levels, different backgrounds. It grew into a platform with social media, newsletters, and a media hub, all dedicated to amplifying these voices. And it’s not just for the stars—it’s for the underdogs, the high school girls, anyone who deserves to be seen and heard.

Part of this is personal. I have a twin brother, so I saw the differences in what he got versus what I got. It never felt good. My mom did her best to shield me from it, but I still noticed—like when he could walk into a sports store and find everything he needed, while I struggled to find sports bras, supplements, or even shoes in female sizes. Those moments stick with you.

So Winning Her Way is my way of helping the next generation of girls feel seen, valued, and supported—so they know their stories matter, too.

ALLIÉ: To your point—if you want to be the change, you have to rewrite the narrative. You have to use the power of storytelling to make people feel. And I love that you’re helping female athletes navigate life beyond the field.

SANTIA: Yes. That’s important.

ALLIÉ: Because there are identity shifts… we are so often what society sees us as, and nothing more. So—identity shifts, business moves, mental health struggles—was there a moment when you had to redefine who you were outside of sports?

SANTIA: Absolutely. One of my most painful memories was in 2022, tearing my ACL. To this day, I’m still not 100% over it. It’s a grieving process—and honestly, I don’t think athletes ever truly get over it, especially when it happens unexpectedly, without you doing anything “wrong.” When it’s out of your control, it cuts deeper.

At the time, I was at the height of my career. I was lined up for a Coca-Cola Super Bowl commercial, playing in the Super Bowl Celebrity Game, doing all these big things right as flag football was blowing up. And then—gone. It was dark. I had a shoe company, I was an influencer, I had my “plan B” ready… but I didn’t realize how much of it was still tied to being an athlete.

I looked in the mirror and realized: I don’t completely know who I am without sports. I’d been an athlete since I was five. The person I’d been my whole life was suddenly… gone. And even if you recover physically, mentally you’re never quite the same. You don’t cut as hard, you don’t move as freely—the wildness and freedom you had before is just… different.

So, I had to ask myself, “Who are you outside of this?” It took time, faith, and an incredible support system to realize: you’re more than an athlete. You’re an author, a wife, a friend, a daughter… You’re someone with a voice, with values, with purpose beyond the game.

I thought my purpose was to inspire little girls to play sports. Now, sports will always be part of me, but I see a bigger picture: financial freedom, using my voice, impacting people through my character and what I stand for. Since then, I’ve written my book More Than an Athlete, met my husband (something I never would have made time for while competing), built new friendships, and faced some truths about the wear and tear sports had put on my body. I had to ask—do I want to be able to pick up my grandkids decades from now? That meant changing how I live now.

It’s still not easy. I still cry sometimes. It really is like a death—you grieve, you adapt, and you keep going.

ALLIÉ: Yeah. And that’s such a powerful comparison—that there’s a grieving process. It’s like getting a scar. It may fade, but it’s always part of you.

SANTIA: Absolutely. When I look at my knee, I see it—and it’s a reminder. I think about the athletes who don’t have what I had—no platform, no plan B—and the mental chaos they must go through. It’s like going to war. It’s PTSD. Your brain can’t comprehend that you’re no longer under the lights, hearing your name, living that life. One day you’re an athlete, the next you’re a “regular” citizen. Nobody prepares you for that. And that’s why I do what I do. Because honestly, I don’t know where I’d be without the support I had. The weight of it—it’s so heavy. It’s hard to even explain.

ALLIÉ: The fact that you can speak to it—you can name it, call it grief—instead of wrestling with some nameless thing… that’s powerful.

SANTIA: Yeah.

ALLIÉ: Sorry, we’re getting deep…

SANTIA: No, you’re good. This is good. It’s a conversation that needs to be had.

ALLIÉ: It does. Okay—one more thing for you today, Santia. From cleats to crowns, you’ve walked a path no one else has. We all have our own path, but yours—right now, in this season of your life—what does the “W” word, what does winning look like to you?

SANTIA: That definition has changed a lot for me over the last five to ten years. For me now, winning is about impact—how much of a difference you can make in the world.

In sports, your impact used to be physical. Now, it’s about finding other ways to create that same level of influence. For me, that means helping one million athletes build their brands, understand financial literacy, and create a legacy off the field—so they have a plan B and aren’t lost when the game ends.

I also want to help take women’s sports from $1 billion to $100 billion. I know—it sounds crazy. But if the most powerful leaders in women’s sports came together and pooled our resources, I truly believe it’s possible. I hope to be a small wave in that ocean—while also making sure athletes know who they are, what their purpose is, and that they’re more than an athlete. I want them to feel seen, heard, and understood. To realize they have the power to impact more people than they can imagine—and that their worth isn’t in stats, points, or touchdowns. It’s in who they impact and how they change the world. ∎

Follow Santia on Instagram:
@trackbaby001

Learn more about Santia and her work:
​santiadeck.com