FIERCE Athlete exists to transform the landscape of women’s athletics, not just in sport, but in identity and femininity. Founded on the conviction that every female athlete is more than her performance, FIERCE helps women thrive physically, mentally, and spiritually by grounding athletic excellence in truth. In a time when women in sport face increasing cultural pressures that reduce their worth to outcomes, appearances, or statistics, FIERCE stands as a courageous and compassionate voice calling athletes back to their inherent dignity and freedom. Through mentorship, discipleship, clinics, retreats, speaking engagements, and community support, FIERCE equips women to compete with confidence, not to prove their value, but to live it even when the uniform comes off.
Meet the Founder and President
Samantha Kelley is an international presenter, author, and speaker. She is the Founder and current President of FIERCE Athlete Inc. She holds an Honorary Doctorate in Applied Leadership from Walsh University, a Masters in Catholic Psychology from Divine Mercy University, a Catholic Innovators Certificate from The University of Notre Dame, Certification in Strength & Conditioning, and Certification from Encounter Ministries. She is a Leonine Fellow, and has extensively studied the Theology of the Body. Her founding of FIERCE Athlete was inspired by her own athletic career, where she was a 9x state champion in high school between soccer, ice hockey and track. She also played Division I Soccer at UConn and is currently involved in competitive rowing, pickleball, and triathlons. Through FIERCE she desires to reach female athletes, coaches, and parents across the world and change the culture of female athletics. She currently resides in Pennsylvania with her golden retriever Birdie.
Sample interview questions:
1. Share your own background with us in collegiate athletics and what compelled you to launch FIERCE Athlete.
2. FIERCE is actually an acronym. Can you share the pillars of what FIERCE stands for?
3. What are some of the resources you provide to female athletes of all levels?
4. In your experience as someone who works with athletes regularly, what are the most common challenges facing female athletes today?
5. Where can people go to learn more about FIERCE and get involved?
Media Requests:
Samantha Kelley is available for comment. To schedule an interview, contact Kate Sell at kate@missionadvancementpartners.com.
What people are saying
"FIERCE Athlete is the best organization I know for helping female athletes understand and live their identity as daughters of God with joy as they strive to be the best athlete they can be. Through humor, personal testimony, small group discussion, and lecture, FIERCE Athlete helps meet each woman where she is and help her to grow in her relationship with Jesus.”-Tyler Rosser, Ave Maria Women’s Soccer Coach
"FIERCE has taught me how strong and capable I actually am even when the world is screaming the opposite. Fierce has taught me that my femininity can reach certain heights while I am playing my sport. FIERCE has taught me what it is to be a woman of integrity, compassion, love, and acceptance. Because of FIERCE I am no longer playing for myself and my glory but for the glory of my Father and for my teammates. I am playing for those who I know are struggling and hurting and offering up my pain for others pain. Without FIERCE I would not be the athlete, teammate, and friend that I am today." - Current College Soccer Player
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Who we serve
In keeping with our mission to empower female athletes to thrive in their God-given identity and femininity, FIERCE Athlete believes in and supports the unique dignity of every female athlete, across all sports, and at all stages of life. Rooted in the Catholic understanding of the human person and the gift of sport to humanity, FIERCE Athlete supports the protection and development of biological women across all aspects of female athletics.
FIERCE Athlete joyfully welcomes any biological woman who desires to live and compete with integrity, excellence, and coherence with our mission. Our programs, mentorship, and culture are shaped by the Catholic understanding of the dignity of each person. Our organization unequivocally stands with female athletes who choose to align with our mission and seek to live their lives, personally and athletically, in joyful coherence with these principles. FIERCE Athlete represents the voice of many female athletes seeking a space to compete with freedom, form friendships rooted in truth, and integrate their identity as women without ideological coercion.