Mia Andrews has been immersed in the world of basketball for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Mia recalls watching her dad coach at the collegiate level and quickly becoming intrigued in pursuing a journey of her own in the sport. From attending practices to watching games, she was captivated by the competitive nature of the game and astounded by its ability to bring people together. As she continued to play throughout her early childhood, elementary, and middle school years, Mia fortified her love for the game and confirmed her interest in playing basketball at the highest level. With an ultimate focus, she did just that. Throughout her time in high school—at Archbishop Wood High School—Mia continued to work day in and day out to study the game and elevate her basketball IQ. From winning three state championships to earning a McDonald's All-American nomination, Mia received an array of accolades during her journey in high school that confirmed her impact on the court and fueled her drive to reach new levels in her basketball career. Upon graduating from Archbishop Wood, she embarked on her collegiate career at Chipola College—where she played for two seasons—before transferring to Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU). As she begins her junior year of college and first season at FDU, Mia is thrilled to continue working towards her dreams of playing professionally in the WNBA or overseas while building her personal brand beyond the game as well. From launching her own podcast to writing a book to creating a sugar scrubs line, Mia has already embarked on an array of ventures focused on highlighting the mental side of the game, helping fellow student-athletes on their journeys, and emphasizing the importance of self-care; and is looking forward to expanding those in the years to come. Incredible!
Diving into your journey early on, especially in high school—where you earned an array of accolades including three state championships—, what did achieving those honors mean to you?
It meant a lot to me. Not just for myself, but as a team—especially through teamwork and feeling that excitement of going through the struggle, having some ups and downs, and then seeing the excitement of being able to celebrate that with my teammates. It was just amazing because the end goal was always to get a ‘chip, get a ring. That was always the end goal and we accomplished it, so it was just amazing.
Take us through your time playing in high school. What was that journey like for you?
Yeah! My freshman year, I was on JV. Then towards the end of my freshman year, I worked my way up to Varsity; and from there on I played Varsity (through) my senior year. It was just more of having that toughness. You know, going through the struggle, working hard, (putting in) the extra hours, the extra reps, and just doing that to eventually get on the court and just play my game. That allowed me (to) succeed and win those championships.
Reflecting back on your time playing in high school, how do you think your game elevated to prepare you for the next level?
I would say it helped me with the scheduling going from high school to college, and even now. I know that some high schools don't have coaches or trainers that help them get to that next level, but I think where I played in high school definitely prepared me. Not just for basketball, but academics-wise (as well); and just all around being like, “Hey, this is what's gonna happen when you get to that next level.” It definitely prepared me a lot and I'm very grateful for that.
As you embarked on your collegiate career, how was that transition from high school to college like for you? What were some challenges that you faced early on?