Mikaylah "Miki" Glenn chose PennWest California seeking both proximity to home and a winning environment. Drawn by Coach Jess Strom's passion—"I felt like I was talking to someone that actually knew the game of basketball"—and Cal's "storied history," Miki arrived wanting to contribute to the legacy. Her freshman year tested her patience, starting 0-5 and initially not starting. "I didn't come here to lose," she remembers thinking. Soon, she earned a starting spot she'd hold for the rest of her career.

Sophomore year brought unimaginable adversity. The mid-season passing of a teammate was "one of the hardest moments" the team endured. Forced to play just days later, they lost, but the tragedy forged an unbreakable bond. "From then on, we made a decision as a team to come together," Miki recalls. "We always felt that we had a presence with us." That shared experience, infused with what Miki calls "a little bit of luck," propelled them through an incredible nine-game winning streak to capture the NCAA Division II National Championship. "Every game felt special," she says. "It felt special to be with that group of girls... That group of girls, we, I'll forever have a bond with them." This powerful sense of community became their strength.

Though a torn ACL ended her playing career prematurely in her senior year playoff run, Miki witnessed the team's resiliency firsthand. Watching them continue to win "speaks to the culture that was built at Cal." Her playing days ended with over 2,000 points and championship rings, but her connection to basketball was far from over. After a brief stint in chemistry, Miki realized she "missed basketball more than anything." An opportunity arose to coach at Fairmont State alongside a fellow Cal alumna, allowing her to stay deeply connected to the sport.

The transition wasn't easy. "At first I expected everyone to play and think like me, and that's not the case at all," she laughs. Yet, coaching brought a new perspective. "As a player, you think about yourself... But as a coach, you have to worry about everything... your job is to grow young women." She found this new role even more rewarding. "When they graduate and hug you and say thank you, like there's nothing more gratifying than that."

Miki's journey reflects how PennWest fosters not just athletic achievement but personal growth and empowerment, providing an education focused on achieving potential and experiences that shape leaders who find fulfillment in giving back and impacting lives, both on and off the court.