Desi Miller and medals, or is it medals and Desi? Either way, when Miller is on the floor for the U.S. Women’s National Team it appears medals are in the future. Miler a seasoned veteran with two Paralympic Games appearances to her wheelchair basketball resume. At the senior level, Miller has won a Rio Paralympics gold medal and World Championships gold medals. Her first set of Paralympics, ended with a fourth-place finish. Miller also played in the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Parapan Am Games. Another set of back to back gold medals came her way in 2010 and 2011 at the IWBF World Championships and a U25 World Championships where she was named Most Valuable Player. 

Homegrown Kirkland, Washington native Miller traveled south to attend the University of Alabama where she obtained a degree in English/Creative Writing. She then went on to study for her Masters in Counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. 

Miller first started playing Wheelchair Basketball at 17 where she played competitively for the Junior Sonics in Seattle, Washington. It was her ease on the court and natural talent and ability that landed her a scholarship just six short months after taking up the sport. She attributes her early success to her loving family who continue to be her hero’s day in and day out.

After playing collegiately she played one season in Hamburg, Germany. Miller claims Germany was very intense and she was humbled and very gracious for the experience. After one season she moved back to the states to be more centralized for Team USA and in preparation for Rio. 

Amongst her years of experience on the court she has also given back by helping coach at her alma mater University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Miller has in fact been seen and noted in a Dick’s Sporting Goods commercial and multiple print ads for the company.

Miller is seen as one of the strongest members of the U.S. Women’s National team year after year. Her confidence that comes with her experience is one of leadership, especially in 2017 as the U.S. Women’s Team is young with international experience.