Driven to Win: Daya King Embraces Opportunity at Duke

A product of Roswell, Ga., Riley Jackson is in her third season with the North Carolina Courage. Once a Duke women's soccer commit, Jackson signed with the Courage as a 17-year-old in high school. A former No. 1-ranked recruit nationally, she was the 2021-22 Gatorade National Girls Soccer Player of the Year. Jackson will continue serving as a contributing writer throughout the 2026 season, telling stories about the Duke women's soccer program.

DURHAM, N.C.-- Whether in a game of Just Dance or a 1v1 battle on the soccer field, sophomore defender Daya King has always wanted to win. The youngest of seven children, with three older brothers and three sisters, King's competitive edge was fostered from an early age. Her family's athletic background, particularly her sister's passion for soccer, played a significant role in shaping King into the athlete she is today.

"We are a sports family. But soccer was never really in the picture. My older sister, Velize, is the main reason I started playing soccer and continue to play soccer. I have always wanted to follow in her footsteps," said King. "Once she started playing college soccer at Berkeley, that is when I knew for real that I wanted to do what she was doing."
Daya King Family

"Growing up competing against my siblings was so fun. My entire family is so competitive, and that is where I get my competitive edge from," said King. "We all used to play Just Dance, and that was the most competitive thing I have ever seen my whole family. Growing up with my sister, we would go back and forth on the soccer field and I did not want to lose."

Moving from California to attend Duke meant King would be far from the family that inspired her love of sports. However, she quickly found a new family in her Duke teammates and coaches, which made the adjustment to college soccer and being away from home seamless.

"Nothing can prepare you for the college experience until you are immersed in it," said King. "The team and the environment have really helped. I am so comfortable with the girls and I think that is one thing that has really impacted my experience. Our closeness off the field translates on the field. I know that no matter what happens, I have these girls around me."

"The coaching staff works so well together and their personalities mix perfectly," said King. "We are not super serious all the time. Carla and Hanna joke, dance around, and bring fun, exciting vibes to the team. We are all excited to come to training and see everyone every day."

Throughout her youth career, King primarily played on the flank as an outside back. From her first day at Duke, however, she transitioned to center back and immediately became a key part of the team's defense. She has embraced the position with remarkable success, quickly establishing herself as one of the top center backs in collegiate soccer. The support and encouragement from her coaches and teammates have played an important role in building her confidence and helping her develop the additional skills needed to excel in her position.

"Growing up, I always played as an outside back, so coming in as a center back, I was initially a little nervous when I was on the ball to show my true qualities and real self. Over time, I broke out of my shell. The backline, the whole team and the coaching staff encouraged me to break out of my shell and embrace the role. The coaches demanded that I speak up, instruct others, and have an impact, even though I was only a freshman."

King expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to play alongside senior captain Cameron Roller. As a role model for many across the backline, Roller's leadership and experience have made a lasting impact on the younger members of the Duke squad, both on and off the pitch. Her guidance has provided King with valuable support as she continues to grow and develop in her role.

"I could not have gone through my entire freshman year without Cam, especially because I was transitioning from outside back to center back," said King. "Whenever I had a question, she was always there to help. Whenever I made a mistake, she was always there to encourage and back me up. Even off the field, I've always known that she is a person that I can talk to outside of soccer when I had questions or when I maybe wasn't feeling the most confident. I would go to her and ask for advice -- she was such a great role model because of her character and experience, and she was one of the main reasons my freshman year went so well."

Being a student-athlete requires finding the right balance between academics, athletics and life beyond the field. King emphasized the importance of being well-rounded and embracing all that Duke has to offer, both on and off the pitch.
Daya King

"Nothing can prepare you for the college experience until you actually get there and are fully immersed," said King. "The school, the soccer and the social life all going hand in hand is something that you really need to focus on. It is important to not get too lost in one thing or the other."

Though she aspires to play soccer beyond college, King is also focused on preparing for life after sports by taking advantage of Duke's networking opportunities and academic challenges.

"Being at Duke, you get the best of both worlds," added King. "It is obviously very competitive, athletically and academically; there is so much to offer. There are so many connections and resources here. I think that is the main thing that will help me in the long run, especially when I am done playing soccer and moving into the next stage of my life."

King hopes to continue building on the growth she experienced throughout her freshman season and further her role as a leader on the squad. She shows impressive maturity on the pitch despite her youth and brings a calm but strong presence to the backline.

Since stepping foot on campus, King has started all 33 matches she has played in. King, a native of Moreno Valley, California, has helped the Blue Devils to 16 shutouts and an appearance in the NCAA College Cup as a rookie. She was recognized in 2025 as an All-ACC Freshman selection and TopDrawerSoccer Best XI Freshman Team honoree for her efforts.

"Confidence and comfort on the ball. Going forward, driving at players, and making the passes and plays I probably wouldn't have felt comfortable making last year. And being more vocal; I'm always yelling and communicating, being an annoying presence for the opponent on the field," said King. "My confidence in my technical ability has increased; I can do certain things under pressure and stay calm on the ball, not stressing when things don't go my way. Staying calm on the inside so it shows on the outside.

Her love for the game and commitment to defending are evident in how she plays. An aggressive defender who consistently makes timed tackles, King also possesses exceptional quality on the ball, consistently breaking lines with a well-timed pass or confident dribble. She explained that she enjoys defending because of its unpredictable nature, which keeps her engaged and on her toes.

"I love getting into tackles, winning aerial duels, and going 1v1," said King. "Being a defender, you always have to be on your toes. It's almost a guessing game; you never know what the forward will do next, and you always have to stay engaged. I also love slide tackling; it's really fun."

"She is so aggressive and has really good defensive instincts," said Duke head coach Kieran Hall. "And now, over the past 12 months or so, we've really seen her progress her game in possession. As an all-around elite defender, she shows outstanding qualities with and without the ball. She has a great sense of danger and can eliminate situations before they even start. She is very dependable; we know she is going to do her job."
Daya King

From an early age, King has been recognized as a top prospect by U.S. Soccer. Being called into training camps provided her with the inspiration and motivation to push her abilities to the limit.

"Getting into the U.S. national team environment solidified the idea that I wanted to continue playing soccer," said King. "This was the next level and it made me realize that if this is what I wanted, I would have to start doing things other people weren't doing. I started waking up early before school to lift, training after school, and doing homework late at night; the days were long. But I knew that if I wanted to keep getting better and develop, I had to do the hard things and sacrifice certain things."

With the ACC schedule becoming increasingly competitive and the postseason quickly approaching, King emphasized the importance of remembering what she is playing for. She remains focused on the team and Duke, not letting distractions affect her mindset.

"It is important not to let the outside noise or the talk of other people get to us," said King. "When you start to focus on the external things, it's easy to forget what you are actually playing for. Being focused on the team, the environment, the culture and Duke itself is essential."

Watch King and the Blue Devils continue their ACC campaign as they take on Boston College on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Newton, Massachusetts, live on ACC Network Extra at 7 p.m.

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