In this episode of The Lockeroom, host Averie Collins and sports psychologist Dr. Stu Singer sit down with longtime NWSL veteran Tori Huster to explore the mental side of the game. With a decade-long professional career, Tori shares how mindfulness, gratitude, and self-awareness helped her lead on and off the field, manage the ups and downs of performance, and prepare for life beyond the game.

Together, they dive into the role of mental health in elite performance, what it really means to be a resilient leader, and how daily routines—like mindful mornings—can shape both mindset and identity. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or fan, this episode offers raw insight and tangible tools for navigating the inner game of sport.

Andy Sullivan — pro soccer player for the Washington Spirit and the U.S. Women’s National Team — opens up about the emotional weight of chasing rosters, recovering from injuries, and navigating pregnancy in the midst of it all. In this honest conversation with former pro Averie Collins and sport psychologist Dr. Stu Singer, Andy dives into how she’s reshaping her mental game with mindfulness, affirmations, and new routines to rediscover her confidence.

They unpack how athletes’ identities get tangled in performance, the struggle of people-pleasing, and why balance and vulnerability might be the most underrated tools in a high-performance life. The episode wraps with a powerful mindfulness exercise you can do right now.

Mindfulness for Athletes – What It Is, What It’s Not, and Why It Works

The difference between good and great isn’t just talent—it’s mindset. In the first episode of The Inner Playbook, former pro athlete Averie Collins and leading sport psychologist Stu Singer break down what mindfulness really means in the world of elite sports. Is it just meditation? A way to stay calm? Or is it a trainable skill that gives athletes a competitive edge?

We’ll dive into the Why? What? How? of mindfulness—why it matters, what it actually looks like in practice, and how you can start integrating it into your game. Whether you're dealing with self-doubt, pressure, or the mental grind of high performance, this episode sets the foundation for building a stronger, more resilient mind.