About Cheryl
Olympic gold medalist, former WNBA head coach and general manager, sportscaster, and one of the top five women’s collegiate basketball players in NCAA history, Cheryl Miller is a basketball legend who helped elevate the women’s game.
Early Years
Born and raised in Riverside, California, a lifelong California resident. Many know the legendary story of Cheryl Miller. Growing up alongside her siblings, basketball became a passion for Cheryl at a young age. Within due time, people would notice the skillset she portrayed as a female hooper in the early 1980s.
A starting standout player throughout high school, Miller became the first athlete—male or female—named to the Parade All-America high school team for four straight years and set California records for points in a single game (105), points in a single season (1,156), and career points (3,405).
Cheryl Miller scored 105 points in a game during her senior season at Riverside Poly, setting a national record at the time.
High School
Where Greatness Took Flight: Cheryl’s High School Era
It all started at Riverside Polytechnic High School, where Cheryl Miller didn’t just play basketball—she transformed the game. A powerhouse with unmatched versatility, Cheryl could do it all: dominate the paint, run the floor, and control the offense like a seasoned pro. Averaging 32 points and 15 rebounds per game, she quickly became nationally recognized.
One of her most legendary moments? Scoring 105 points in a single game against Norte Vista High School in 1982—a performance that still echoes through basketball history.
With a staggering 132–4 team record over four years, Miller’s dominance was undeniable. Her excellence on the court earned her unanimous All-American honors and paved the way for her next chapter at the University of Southern California, where her legacy would continue to rise.
On January 26, 1982, Cheryl was a High School senior when she became the first woman to dunk a basketball in organized play.
College Career at USC
The Dominance continued in college.
Still the most highly recruited male or female player ever, Miller chose the University of Southern California (USC). Teaming up with Pam and Paula McGee and Cynthia Cooper, Miller became a four-time All-American, leading the Trojans to a 112-20 record and to the NCAA title in 1983 and 1984. The back-to-back titles were an NCAA first, and she was tournament MVP both years. The ’83 Championship team had an all-black starting five for the first time in history.
OLYMPIAN AND COACHING CAREER
In the international arena, Miller led the U.S. women’s basketball team to a gold medal in the 1983 Pan American Games and to another gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1986, she added a gold medal at the Goodwill Games in Moscow as the U.S. team broke the Soviet Union’s 152-game winning streak. Miller spent time playing for USA Basketball during her college days, but due to a knee injury, her career was cut short.
She also served as a basketball analyst and commentator for ABC, ESPN, TBS, and TNT. In November 1996, she became the first female analyst to call a nationally televised NBA game.
Still Leading, Still Inspiring
Cheryl Miller may not have played professionally, but her impact on the game didn’t stop at the final buzzer of her college career. With the same fire that made her a legend on the court, Cheryl poured her passion into coaching.
She returned to her roots as head coach at her alma mater, USC, for two seasons, bringing her full-circle legacy back to where it all began. From there, she took her talents to the pros, becoming head coach and General Manager of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury for three dynamic seasons. She is the first person to ever serve as a Head Coach and General Manager in the WNBA.
In 1998, she led the Mercury all the way to the WNBA Finals, where she faced off against her former teammate Cynthia Cooper and the powerhouse Houston Comets.
Today
Cheryl Miller wasn’t just part of basketball history; she helped create it.
While today’s younger hoop fans may only know her as Reggie Miller’s sister, the truth is, Cheryl was the blueprint. Her career may have ended after college, but her dominance changed the game forever.
She played with a force and flair that inspired generations to dream bigger, play harder, and believe they belonged—especially young women. Cheryl didn’t just leave a mark—she continues to leave a legacy.
Miller’s recognition includes induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, the FIBA Hall of Fame, PAC-12 Hall of Fame “Pac-12 Player of the Century”, and the California Hall of Fame. Most recently, received the 2025 National Civil Rights Museum Sports Legacy Award and the IX’s Legacy Award presented by the Las Vegas Aces to honor women whose exemplary lives represent the spirit of Title IX.
With Cheryl, the final chapter hasn’t been written yet. Greatness doesn’t retire—it evolves.
