Deacon Sports Xtra: From Wake Forest to a New York Times Best Seller
9/14/2023 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
“At Wake Forest, I had to learn how to work. I recognized if I didn’t work, I wouldn’t play or get good grades. It was where I learned to put in effort to get the results I wanted.” - Kate T. Parker
As a member of the inaugural Wake Forest women's soccer team, Kate T. Parker has been forever proud of her time as a Demon Deacon and thankful to have earned a degree at such a prestigious university.
But then something strange happened with the relationship between Parker and her alma mater — those feelings became reciprocated.
While in line to check out at a grocery store along with her husband Mike, Parker got a text from Wake Forest women's soccer coach Tony da Luz that included a picture of her book "Strong is the New Pretty" prominently displayed in his office.
Parker was touched to the point of tears while Mike was standing there wondering what in the world was happening.
"What is wrong with you?" he asked.
"Wake is proud that I was there!" Parker said. "They're proud of me."
For the author of two New York Times Best Sellers, she considered that epiphany a huge moment. Parker's third book, "Play Like a Girl: Life Lessons from the Soccer Field," was released last month.
"I'm really proud of the book," Parker said. "It's so close to my heart. I come from a place I've been my whole life. When the books come out is my least favorite part of the book process. They feel like your babies, like you're sending your kids to college. You want it to do well and you want everybody to like it. You want to succeed. It's stressful. I'm really proud of it, but now others are going to judge it and determine if it's good."
Her newest book is a collection of photos of girls and women soccer players, organized around the life lessons that can be gleaned while playing the game of soccer, including quotes from many of the subjects.
"I love making them so much," Parker said about her books. "I feel like this one, because it's so tied to who I am and what shaped me, that regardless of whatever other people say about it, I'll be okay either way. That's the way I should always be, but this one is so tied to who I am. It's particularly close to home."
"I feel like any project I take on is that way, but because this one is so specific to how I grew up and how much I would have appreciated a book like this when I was a kid. With soccer, I know what I'm doing and I know what I'm shooting. I know all the moves and all the angles. I know every part of it, so it made it easier. I knew the parts I wanted to capture. I had more of a clear idea on how everything should look and feel, and all of the parts I wanted to show that maybe people don't get to see."
Parker didn't make her college decision until the spring of her senior year of high school. Growing up in New Jersey, she had visions of playing in the south.
"I love the weather," Parker said. "My mom had read an article about Title IX and that Wake Forest was getting a team. She had been on a college tour with my sister at UNC Greensboro, and had driven through Wake."
Although she didn't believe she was smart enough to go to Wake Forest, she was invited for an official visit after the staff saw her tape.
"It was March of my senior year," Parker said about her visit. "It was snowing in New Jersey and I got off the plane in Greensboro and it was 75 and sunny. I got on campus and was just floored. I called my mom collect and told her I was going there. I absolutely loved the campus. I just got there and it seemed where I was meant to be, and it was the best decision I've ever made."
Parker made the very first touch on the ball in Wake Forest women's soccer history, and her senior season overlapped with current coach da Luz's first with the program.
"I really just loved being at Wake Forest," Parker said. "I loved my teammates. I loved soccer, and I loved the whole experience of being surrounded by 20 of my best friends – who were more like sisters. I loved the school so much. I enjoyed the small campus. You didn't feel overwhelmed."
"I didn't like this factor at the time, but it really challenged and pushed me. It wasn't a cakewalk. I worked my butt off there and learned both on and off the field. It was honestly the first time in my whole life, because I didn't have to work that hard in high school. At Wake Forest, I had to learn how to work. I recognized if I didn't work, I wouldn't play or get good grades. It was where I learned to put in effort to get the results I wanted."
But then something strange happened with the relationship between Parker and her alma mater — those feelings became reciprocated.
While in line to check out at a grocery store along with her husband Mike, Parker got a text from Wake Forest women's soccer coach Tony da Luz that included a picture of her book "Strong is the New Pretty" prominently displayed in his office.
Parker was touched to the point of tears while Mike was standing there wondering what in the world was happening.
"What is wrong with you?" he asked.
"Wake is proud that I was there!" Parker said. "They're proud of me."
For the author of two New York Times Best Sellers, she considered that epiphany a huge moment. Parker's third book, "Play Like a Girl: Life Lessons from the Soccer Field," was released last month.
"I'm really proud of the book," Parker said. "It's so close to my heart. I come from a place I've been my whole life. When the books come out is my least favorite part of the book process. They feel like your babies, like you're sending your kids to college. You want it to do well and you want everybody to like it. You want to succeed. It's stressful. I'm really proud of it, but now others are going to judge it and determine if it's good."
Her newest book is a collection of photos of girls and women soccer players, organized around the life lessons that can be gleaned while playing the game of soccer, including quotes from many of the subjects.
"I love making them so much," Parker said about her books. "I feel like this one, because it's so tied to who I am and what shaped me, that regardless of whatever other people say about it, I'll be okay either way. That's the way I should always be, but this one is so tied to who I am. It's particularly close to home."
"I feel like any project I take on is that way, but because this one is so specific to how I grew up and how much I would have appreciated a book like this when I was a kid. With soccer, I know what I'm doing and I know what I'm shooting. I know all the moves and all the angles. I know every part of it, so it made it easier. I knew the parts I wanted to capture. I had more of a clear idea on how everything should look and feel, and all of the parts I wanted to show that maybe people don't get to see."
Parker didn't make her college decision until the spring of her senior year of high school. Growing up in New Jersey, she had visions of playing in the south.
"I love the weather," Parker said. "My mom had read an article about Title IX and that Wake Forest was getting a team. She had been on a college tour with my sister at UNC Greensboro, and had driven through Wake."
Although she didn't believe she was smart enough to go to Wake Forest, she was invited for an official visit after the staff saw her tape.
"It was March of my senior year," Parker said about her visit. "It was snowing in New Jersey and I got off the plane in Greensboro and it was 75 and sunny. I got on campus and was just floored. I called my mom collect and told her I was going there. I absolutely loved the campus. I just got there and it seemed where I was meant to be, and it was the best decision I've ever made."
Parker made the very first touch on the ball in Wake Forest women's soccer history, and her senior season overlapped with current coach da Luz's first with the program.
"I really just loved being at Wake Forest," Parker said. "I loved my teammates. I loved soccer, and I loved the whole experience of being surrounded by 20 of my best friends – who were more like sisters. I loved the school so much. I enjoyed the small campus. You didn't feel overwhelmed."
"I didn't like this factor at the time, but it really challenged and pushed me. It wasn't a cakewalk. I worked my butt off there and learned both on and off the field. It was honestly the first time in my whole life, because I didn't have to work that hard in high school. At Wake Forest, I had to learn how to work. I recognized if I didn't work, I wouldn't play or get good grades. It was where I learned to put in effort to get the results I wanted."
Wake Forest Football Head Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Week 5)
Tuesday, September 23
Coach Jake Dickert Press Conference (Sept. 22, 2025)
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Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
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Wednesday, September 10