Third-ranked Duke women’s soccer delivered a 5-0 victory over first-ranked Stanford on Sunday, handing the Cardinal its first loss of the season in dominant fashion. At the center of it was Duke junior Katie Shea Collins, who scored the opening goal and assisted two more. 

Her three goal contributions earned her TopDrawer Soccer National Player of the Week. But beyond the recognition, the performance offered another glimpse into what makes Collins so impactful: the joy she brings to the game and unwavering mentality.

“I’m just so blessed to be on this team,” she said on the broadcast after the game. “We have 6:15 (AM) in the mornings, we had a scrimmage at six in the morning last week, and we have just been gritty. You saw it. We put our heart out there.”

For Collins, gratitude for her opportunities and competitiveness are not opposing forces. Instead, they exist together and shape how she approaches not only soccer, but the people around her.

“I’m just so blessed to be on this team,” she said on the broadcast after the game. We have 6:15 (AM) in the mornings, we had a scrimmage at six in the morning last week, and we have just been gritty. You saw it. We put our heart out there.”

Katie Shea Collins

Finding Joy in the Opportunity

Collins wants to compete, win, and give everything she has to her teammates. But her joy does not depend entirely on if the ball finds the back of the net or if her team walks away with a victory.

In an episode of the WhatsUp Podcast, Collins described the short prayer she says before every game. Just before the whistle, she gets down on one knee and takes a moment to reflect.

“I say thank you to Chase, who’s my friend, who passed away,” she said. “And I also tell God thank you for letting me be on this field.”

She also gives thanks for moments that have yet to happen, whether good or bad.

“I give Him both, because I think God wants them all and I truly believe that. And then I’m locked in and I’m ready,” she said.

Collins is able to pause, appreciate the opportunity in front of her and then compete with full commitment. The joy comes first, and the intensity follows.

A Faith Bigger Than the Final Whistle

Collins’ faith provides the foundation for how she understands her role as an athlete. Soccer is a gift, a passion, and a space where she can express herself. But it is not her ultimate purpose.

“Soccer at the end of the day, that’s not the goal, right? The goal is making it to heaven,” she said via the WhatsUp Podcast. 

That perspective does not mean that she is detached from the outcome of games, however. She makes it clear that she is deeply invested in winning. 

“I want to win no matter what,” she said. “Like, I promise you, I’m going to give everything I have to win.”

She also recognizes the limits of what an athlete can control. Once the final whistle blows, the result is permanent but the response still belongs to her. 

“I can’t change it when it happens. But I can control how I act, and I can control how I give it up to the Lord and how I will train for the next day,” she said.

Faith allows Collins to care deeply while still keeping results in perspective.

Choosing Growth

Collins' mentality also shaped her decision to transfer to Duke.

After establishing herself at South Carolina, she made the choice to leave a familiar environment and challenge herself in a new one. She understood that discomfort is an important part of growth.

“Duke is the next level for me,” she said. “I knew they were going to push me out of my comfort zone both in academics and athletics, so I was a little nervous to make the change. But I knew since I was not comfortable that meant it was the right decision.”

At Duke, she found support in fellow transfer and roommate Sam Courtwright. Their friendship has helped make the transition feel less overwhelming, allowing them to navigate the experience together both on and off the field. Head Coach Kieran Hall praises the energy they have brought to the program early on. 

“Both Katie Shea and Sam are hungry to learn every single day,” she said. “They bring an energy and enthusiasm where they want to improve their game and help improve the team. Their energy is contagious and it has been since the first day they arrived.” 

Collins’ journey shows how an athlete can pursue excellence without allowing sport to dictate her sense of purpose. That balance is what makes her joy feel genuine. When Katie Shea Collins steps onto the field, she does not need to choose between playing with a purpose and playing with joy. 

She does both.