Brandi Butler Millis was raised in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania and had a love of sports and a passion for competition. Her older brother signed up for a basketball league and Millis begged her parents to allow her to play. Her love of the game began while playing for the Junior Jewish Basketball League (JJBL), but it wasn’t easy to become accepted by the boys.

Millis continued to improve and eventually starred at Cheltenham High School where she was a four-year varsity starting point guard for the Panthers. Everyone took notice of Millis when she graduated as the all-time leading scorer, beating out the men with 1,710 points. She was also Cheltenham High’s all-time assist leader with a whopping 775 accumulated during her career. Cheltenham High’s girls’ basketball team finished with a record of 105-10 in her four-year career.

Millis was a three-time Super 10 selection and made three-time First Team All-Suburban One League – Liberty Division. She was a third team All-State selection, a Pennsylvania All-Star in the East/West game, and a two-time Montgomery Newspapers Player of the Year. Millis went on to play at the University of Richmond Women’s Basketball team from 1996-2000, before joining as point guard for Hapoel Galil Elyon (הפועל גליל עליון) in the Israeli Basketball Premier League in 2001.

Millis’ story is one of perseverance. During her junior year of high school, she tore her ACL but was able to come back to have a full senior season. While playing for the University of Richmond in her sophomore year, she broke her wrist five games into the season. She fought for playing time and finally earned a starting position for the Spiders in her senior year, only to tear her other ACL. It was after overcoming these serious injuries that she played professionally in Israel.

Later, Millis coached the boys and girls at the Maccabi Youth games and spent 16 years coaching in the JJBL. Starting in 2006, she has served as coach of the eighth grade boys’ team at Cedarbrook Middle School. Millis’ inspired play led to over 20 years as a motivational speaker at schools, camps, and clinics where she shares her message about overcoming obstacles and setting goals. Millis has had her own personal training business for the last 12 years, motivating people of all ages while getting them healthy and fit.

Millis and her husband, Adam, have three boys. All three have played in the JJBL.