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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Santia Deck

By Atlanta United FC

March 19^th, 2020

Obstacles may occur, but that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel and give up.

For WFLA Los Angeles Fames player Santia Deck, she’s where she is today from persevering through every struggle.

“When you have a goal and dream set, it’s a reminder every day,” Deck said with conviction.” I gotta get up even if I’m tired or I don’t want to. I am very motivated. I’m very driven.”

Deck started running, jumping, climbing and playing sports ever since she could walk. It always came natural for her. As she grew up, she was involved in multiple sports, but the one that stayed close to her heart was track.

“From 1 or 2 years old, I was able to jump, climb and do things most little kids couldn’t do,” Deck said. “People used to ask if I was on steroids because I was so muscular.

Deck competed in track all throughout high school. She went to school in Texas for three years and moved to Georgia her senior year of high school, where she attended Milton High School in Fulton County. Though she enjoyed Georgia and her new surroundings, her heart still was in Texas. After being away from Texas for a year, she realized she wanted to go back there. She missed it more than she realized. She landed a scholarship for track at Texas A&M University- Kingsville. She competed throughout college on the team in 100 meter, 200 meter and other events. After college, she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do.

“Pretty much after track, I had to figure out how to fill that void of not being a runner anymore,” Deck stated. “I got into flag football. I ended up doing really well.”

As Deck started her new profession in flag football, her talents didn’t go unnoticed by NFL players like Julio Jones and other celebrities. Her success on the field caught the attention of fans and celebrities alike on social media after breaking records and becoming a part of the USA team. Soon after her successes, another opportunity fell into her lap.

“I got attention from a rugby coach,” Deck stated with a laugh. “He hit me up on facebook and asked if I ever thought about rugby. I told him ‘what’s that?’ He was like you’re really fast, you’re really agile, you should try rugby.”

The next week he flew her out to San Diego to train with the team. Though she had a great experience, it ended sooner than she thought. As she boarded the plane home to Atlanta, a Facebook message popped up in her notifications— another opportunity.

“I got a message from the LFL coach,” Deck shared. “I played half a season. I realized it wasn’t for me. It didn’t go with my brand.”

After LFL, she still was trying to figure out her next move. It started with people tagging her in videos on Instagram. Due to her aggressive and gritty playing style, people were tagging her in rugby videos, so she got back to work training and learning rugby. Throughout 2019 she was training for the Olympics with coaches and trainers. Sadly, an injury ended her rugby endeavors.

“Every coach was telling me I was going to make the team,” Deck said with frustration. “I fell into a depression for three months, and then I got a call from the WFLA.”

This call was the one she worked hard for all these years, why she trained hard every day in the gym, and why her passion for sports never died.

“As much as I wanted to stop playing sports, when it’s something inside you cannot deny, that light has never been put out,” Deck said with conviction. “I have such a passion to achieve the olympics or make it to the pros I just wanted to show people what it means not to give up. I could’ve given up so many times.”

Then, the call that would be a pivot in her career was from the Los Angeles Fames owner with a special opportunity for Deck.

“She told me ‘we like what you’re doing and we’d like to make you an offer.’ She made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, and now, I’m here,” Deck said with a smile from cheek-to-cheek.

Deck made history. She inked a contract that made her the first woman to sign a multi-million dollar football contract.

Now, when she’s not training on the football field, she’s motivating others in their health and fitness goals. She’s made workout videos for all types of bodies and people to help them reach their best potential. In the fitness world, she’s known as the Queen of Abs. She even claims Atlanta as one of the reasons she’s been so motivated.

“This is the home of entrepreneurs,” Deck explained. “You can do anything. I think there's so much support here. There’s so much culture. There’s so many successful people around me. I feel like it motivates me to get up every day and chase my dreams. Being in Atlanta is like a dream really coming true.”

Just like the rowdy and proud 17s of the 5-Stripe family that Deck loves the most about Atlanta United, her ultimate motivation for all she does is special friends and family she’s lost along the way. At the end of the day, they are the ones that help her get up every day and put in the hard work through every struggle.

“I have so many angels pulling, so why not do the things I know they told me I could do and get to this level,” Deck said with strength. “I’m just going to keep going till I cannot go no more. I have so many people pulling me here and not here.”

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