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When everything is going wrong for Boston College’s Shea Baker, she remembers her head coach Acacia Walker-Weinstein’s four-word mantra.

Just be Shea Baker.

The phrase came after a particularly rough game during Baker’s freshman year, when she couldn’t get out of her head after a mistake. Since then, just being Shea Baker has taken the senior defender far.

After a sophomore breakout, Baker evolved into one of the best defenders in the country. She was named a 2025 Inside Lacrosse First Team All-American and leads the Eagles in ground balls (22) and caused turnovers (23) this season. She was selected seventh overall in the Women’s Lacrosse League College Draft by the Boston Guard Wednesday, extending her stellar career.

As Boston College navigates its worst record in Baker’s tenure, sitting at 8-6 and 5-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, she internally repeats Walker-Weinstein’s words. To upset No. 4 Syracuse Thursday, the No. 16 Eagles and Baker will depend on it more than ever before.

“I lean on my athleticism and my speed and my love for the sport before any technical skill sets,” Baker said. “It doesn’t have to be pretty, it doesn’t have to be perfect, but it has to be something you’re fighting for every day.”

During Baker’s recruiting process, Boston College fell in love with her athleticism. Walker-Weinstein said Baker ran circles around everyone she played with, which stemmed back to Baker’s time at Ithaca High School (New York).

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the kid get tired,” said Kaitlyn Hoffay, Baker’s high school head coach. “Obviously, she worked hard in preparing and being at a level where she never needed to come off the field. But I also think her mindset was a tough mindset of she’s never going to give up, she’s never going to let anything slow her down.”

Even as a tireless worker, Baker’s skill set didn’t instantly transfer to the college level. As a two-way midfielder, Baker spent her first season playing wherever the Eagles asked her to. She said that freshman year was one of the most difficult times in her lacrosse career.

Baker felt pressure to find her footing quickly. In her second year, she finally did. She shifted her focus to defense, which brought her an increased confidence Walker-Weinstein noticed.

“She just decided that she wanted to be more than great,” Walker-Weinstein said. “I think she wanted to be one of the best. And I think that happened in her sophomore year when she was inspired by people like Sydney Scales and Kayla Martello and Andrea Reynolds.”

Baker’s impact was immediate. She recorded 43 caused turnovers and 99 draw controls after finishing with 13 and 24 the year prior.

The United States National Team took notice, too. So much so that Baker, after playing with the USA U-20s, was named to the senior team for the 2026 World Championship. She’ll join Team USA in July in Japan alongside teammate Shea Dolce and with Walker-Weinstein at the helm.

“I don’t ever want it to end with someone like Shea,” Walker-Weinstein said. “But the fact that we get to end her college career together and start her USA career together — I feel like that’s a privilege for me.”

The USA jersey means more to Baker. With two appearances on the national team, she said she’s met girls from around the world, some she’s faced in college and others who aspired to be in her position.

Shea Baker tosses a pass to a teammate during a Team USA lacrosse practice. She was named to the national team in December, and will play at the 2026 World Championships in Japan. Courtesy of BC Athletics

Back in Ithaca, Hoffay said Baker has continued to inspire other players. Her career started with a local team her dad, Todd Baker, partially founded.

Now, the senior leads lacrosse clinics with some of Hoffay’s current high school players whenever she’s back home.

“I don’t think you could pick a better person,” Hoffay said. “For her to represent Ithaca and the lacrosse community here, it’s just a big proud moment for anyone that’s met her or coached her or played with her.”

Baker credits her grassroots upbringing for her grounded relationship with lacrosse. When the losses come or her love for the sport wavers, she’s learned to trust the process and remember the victories, the latest being her selection to the WLL.

Former BC stars like Charlotte North and Kenzie Kent set the standard for Baker’s success and that professional opportunity.

“I’m forever indebted to them,” Baker said. “I’m so excited to see where this work goes in the next few years, and to have another avenue post-grad is so amazing, because I never want this sport to end in my life.”

For now, Baker’s still focused on delivering while she’s at BC. She said she’ll always be chasing the feeling of the Eagles’ 2024 National Championship win against Northwestern. For Baker, it’s never out of reach. Especially if she’s just Shea Baker.

“Anything is possible if you have 32 girls chasing after one shared goal,” Baker said. “That’s something we’ve been reminding ourselves of, that no matter how how many games we’ve lost, or whatever start we had to our season, it’s still possible if we turn the ship around.”

Published on April 16, 2026 at 12:35 am
Contact Georgia: gphudson@syr.edu