More Than an Athlete: Maya Dodson on Engineering Excellence, Academic Achievement, and Building Identity Beyond Basketball

McDonald's All-American. Pac-12 Champion. Created her own major at Stanford: Engineering & Ethics. Earned a Master's from Notre Dame's Mendoza Business School. Second Team All-ACC. Drafted 26th overall in the WNBA.

Maya Dodson isn't just a professional basketball player — she's an engineer, a scholar, and someone who refuses to be defined by one thing.

While most student-athletes focus solely on their sport, Maya created her own academic path at Stanford, designing a major that combined her interests in engineering with her passion for ethics. When she transferred to Notre Dame for her graduate season, she didn't just play basketball — she earned an MBA from one of the country's top business schools while leading the ACC in blocks and offensive rebounds.

Maya's journey from McDonald's All-American to professional basketball player is impressive. But what makes her story unique is how she's built identity beyond the court, pursued multiple passions simultaneously, and prepared for life after basketball while excelling at the highest levels of the game.

In this episode of The Standard Podcast™, Maya shares:

• The biggest lies female athletes are told about identity and success
• Why she created her own major — Engineering & Ethics — at Stanford
• Her transfer decision: doing what's best for you, not what's expected
• Building identity beyond basketball while excelling on the court
• Pursuing engineering and sports performance as a professional athlete
• What young female athletes need to know about education and life after sports

This isn't just about women's basketball — it's about what it means to pursue excellence in multiple areas while refusing to be limited by what others think an athlete should be.

This isn't motivation. This is a movement.

Connect with Maya: @macd_15

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ABOUT THE STANDARD PODCAST™: This isn't motivation. This is a movement. Hosted by Erin Sarles and Thomas Roe, co-founders of Blueprint to Bluechip™, The Standard Podcast™ calls out the lies culture sold athletes and raises a new standard in sports, leadership, and life. We bring raw, truth-packed 20-25 minute conversations about identity, discipline, and legacy that goes beyond the scoreboard.

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