These Sun Devils are inspiring the next generation of female athletes

Race car driver Chloe Chambers, international softball player Dallas Escobedo Magee and WNBA basketball star Elizabeth Williams are exceptional female athletes who set standards in their professional sports and academic pursuits. 

These women are either earning or have earned their degree through ASU Online and prove that excellence doesn't have to stop at the finish line. 

Racing toward a new era in women's motorsports

Twenty-year-old Chloe Chambers expertly balances her life as a professional race car driver and an online business administration student at ASU. 

Chambers races for the Red Bull Ford Academy Programme in the F1 Academy. The all-female racing series, backed by Formula One, is more than just a competition; it's a movement that empowers women to shatter long-held barriers, finding ways to integrate more female talent into motorsports.

But learning has always been the front-runner in Chambers' life. Her mother, a teacher, instilled in her the belief that knowledge fuels opportunity. 

With the unique flexibility of online education, she navigates the twists and turns of both the racetrack and academia. 

"She's always wanted us to get our degrees," Chambers said. "I think it's important. It's not a very common thing in racing to earn a degree. A lot of the drivers who do end up getting their degree had to take time off of racing to pursue that, which I don't have to do, luckily, with ASU."

With her eyes set on the Shanghai race in mid-March, she reflects on her journey.

"If I ever stop my racing or my driving career for any reason, and when that time does come, whether it's because of money, age or injury or something like that, I want something to kind of fall back on," Chambers said. "I would love to stay within the motorsports industry, so with the business administration degree, I can stay in motorsports, doing something I still enjoy and hopefully will be able to do until I'm very old."

Balancing career and education on a global stage

Dallas Escobedo Magee has spent over a decade carving out her legacy on the softball field, quickly becoming a force in women's professional fast-pitch.

She finished her career at ASU as one of the most decorated Sun Devils, launching her professional career right after graduating in 2014 with three trips to the Women's College World Series and one national championship.

She went on to play with the Pennsylvania Rebellion and joined Team Mexico Women's National Softball Team in 2016. In 2020, she joined Mexico's first women's team to participate in the Olympic games.

Escobedo Magee was one of 15 women who comprised the Mexican National-Olympic Softball Team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, becoming the first pitcher for Mexico at the Olympic games.

Growing up a devoted Sun Devil, she has always cherished her ties to ASU. The decision to pursue her master's degree online wasn't just about flexibility — it was about staying connected to a community that shaped her both on and off the field. 

"The early stages of when I started my online degree, I was in the States," Escobedo Magee said. "I did travel all over the world playing with Team Mexico. I was doing homework, probably in the Dominican Republic or South Africa. Having the ability to access the online program wherever I needed was helpful."

While competing on the world stage, Escobedo Magee studied from around the world. She credits ASU's online programs with the flexibility that allowed her to tailor her studies around her demanding athletic schedule. 

"It allowed me to finish my master's while playing full-time," she said. "I never had to choose between my education and my sport. I was able to make my own schedule, which I still love to this day, with anything that I do."

Her education has also had a profound tie to her coaching aspirations. 

Studying autism and behavior analysis online has allowed her to blend her love for sports with a deep commitment to teaching. This unique combination fuels her off-season coaching, where she transfers valuable lessons from the classroom to the field. 

Now gearing up for her seventh season with Toyota Shokki, a team based in the Kariya region of Japan, Escobedo Magee reflects on her career as a pitcher on the international stage.

"Playing with the Toyota Shokki has been the most phenomenal and fulfilling experience as a professional that I could get," Escobedo Magee said.

Global impact beyond the court

Chicago Sky center Elizabeth Williams has seamlessly fused her passion for sports with a growing interest in global health.

Born in England to Nigerian parents, Williams initially thought her future might mirror her parents' successful medical careers. However, her love for basketball soon changed the trajectory of her life.

She quickly became a standout player, earning a scholarship to Duke University, where academics remained a priority. While initially considering a career in medicine, she was drawn to basketball, eventually playing professionally in the WNBA and overseas.

Through her years in the WNBA, Williams honed her leadership skills, becoming a player representative and later serving on the executive committee of the Women's National Basketball Players Association. Her advocacy work includes negotiating for better health and safety standards for women athletes.

While continuing her basketball career, Williams pursued a graduate degree in global health online at ASU.

"I've learned a lot about global health, how it's evolved and how you can make an immediate impact," she said.

Her focus on healthcare access and women's health is strongly influenced by her international experiences playing in countries with diverse healthcare systems, including Turkey, Russia and China.

"I like the flexibility that online school offers," she said. "I (had) never taken anything online, so it was an adjustment, but because it's online, I can do everything when I'm overseas. When I'm in Turkey, I can turn in papers or chat with the group even though they're in the U.S."

Her program's holistic approach to health — focused on the environmental, cultural and social factors — aligns with Elizabeth's long-term goals in medicine and global health. 

Williams is committed to addressing health disparities, particularly the need for more Black physicians, and her advocacy work has extended to joining the American Cancer Society's cabinet, where she helps raise awareness and funds for cancer research. 

"I can do something else," Williams said. "I just feel like there's more to life. There are other ways that you can have an impact that makes a difference."

SOURCE ASU Online