Embracing the Journey

From rock climber to ice skater, world traveler to fashion designer, Millie Stevens is so much more than your average women's basketball player.

Stevens grew up in the quaint town of Guildford, England; the same place her father was raised and where her mother grew up close by. She developed her personality at a non-traditional primary school that gave her the opportunity to develop her creativity. Students were allowed to call teachers by their first name and were not required to wear uniforms, which is very uncommon in England.

"My primary school gave me a really positive perspective on life," explained Stevens. "We learned to balance our studies while also pursuing our passions. It was a very benevolent place."

While amongst this free-spirit atmosphere, Stephens grew up trying anything and everything to discover what she loved most.

"My parents are extremely supportive and have always let me try whatever I desired, so I could discover my own interests, "Stevens said.

Stevens came to Illinois State with her mind set on pursuing a career in fashion. Her next door neighbor was a local wedding dress designer and would provide Stevens with scraps to experiment with and also taught her how to sew.

"I fell in love with making items for myself at a young age and I would even draw out my own outfits," expressed Stevens.

Stevens went on to secondary school, and continued her hobby. The school had one of the best textiles department in the country and this is where she learned more about the fashion industry and decided on what she wanted to continue her studies in. 

She began her college career as a fashion merchandising major, but recently changed routes after listening to a professional in the fashion world.

"I've always wanted a career that is very personable, something that allows me to meet and communicate with all different types of people," said Stevens. "After hearing the life of a buyer it seemed as if it was an office environment behind a computer screen and I know that is not how I envisioned my career."

Stevens battled the decision of changing her major and reached out to her parents for guidance.

Her parents had asked her if she had ever thought of a career in teaching, and it was that moment that she knew it would be a great fit for her desired lifestyle.

"I love kids and I love the idea of being able to help them find their passion," Stevens said. "That's why I changed to Family Consumer Science Teaching because it's more personalized." "Students that are typically there are there because they want to be and they are passionate about it."

Stephens described herself as a tom-boy through and through growing up. She participated in swimming and competed at a regional level. She ventured into ice skating and even rock climbing, but something about these sports did not ignite the fire for her like basketball did.

"I did not like how individual those sports were and with basketball you could build relationships and it was so much more than just being about you," Stevens said. "I really loved that aspect."

In order to play competitively in England, young athletes have to go outside of school and participate on a club team. It is not common to have high school team sports, like it is in the United States. Stephens began playing basketball after being encouraged by a teacher at her secondary school.

"I was around 12 or 13 when I pursued it fully and I was really bad," Stephens laughed. "My teacher's son had played on the national team and she pushed me to follow my dreams and keep at it." 

It was at age 16 that Stevens knew she wanted to continue to pursue basketball and she hoped to one day perform at the collegiate level in the United States. This was a way for her to get a supported education, play the game she loved and also have the opportunity to travel the world.

Stephens and her father had worked diligently on putting a highlight video together to send to any and every school that sparked her interest.

"My dad was my savior," said Stevens. "He sat down with me and we looked at the level I wanted to play at and we sent out what seemed like hundreds of applications."

Stevens was on a visit at an NCAA Division II institution when she received the call from Illinois State University Women's Basketball. She had her mind set already, but she thought she would schedule a visit just in case.

Millie was immediately impressed with ISU.

"I loved the area and the people instantly," Stevens said. "My father and I walked into Redbird Arena and there was a children's camp taking place. At the same moment we walked in the children were clapping and I just looked around and knew that I had to play at this school, in this arena."

Stevens made her decision with little hesitation and made her way to the United States in the summer of 2015. She had spent several summers with her family travelling the world and even travelling with her team back home, so the transition to a new country did not phase her.

"I have always been immersed in different cultures from travelling so much with my family," said Stevens. "It was hard of course when I first got here, but I think I would be just as home sick had I stayed in England."

Stevens is no stranger to adapting to the lifestyle of different countries after visiting a total of 38, her favorite being Thailand. 

"I just love the hospitality and everyone is so genuine," Stevens said. "They don't have a lot and they don't need materialistic things to be happy. They are all content and have each other."

Prior to her arrival at Illinois State, Stevens spent time playing for the Sevenoaks Suns which is a part of the Women's British Basketball League (WBBL). The WBBL is the highest level of women's basketball in the United Kingdom. During her time with the suns, Stevens was named the Most Valuable Player by the Great Britain Performance Manager in the 2015 National Cup Final in Manchester. She helped the Suns win a 62-59 game with 19 points and 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. She was a captain as a senior, and was the second-leading scorer as a senior, shooting 76 percent from the field.  In the U18 National League with the Suns, her team won the title in 2014 and finished second twice. In the U18 National Cup, she led the Suns to two titles and two second-place finishes.

Stevens is now a competitor on Doug Collins Court in Redbird Arena, playing under the direction of first year head coach Kristen Gillespie. She was named Missouri Valley Newcomer of the Week as a freshman and has been a member of the AFNI honor all every semester.

With Gillespie at the helm, the Redbirds have secured their most successful season since the 2012-13 season.

"She is an amazingly positive person and you want to work for her," expressed Stevens. "Her expectation is always the same and she holds us to a high standard every single day. You know what you needs to be done and having that structure and that expectation helps everyone perform at a high level."

The lessons learned this season in addition to her vast life experiences, no matter what Millie Stevens puts her mind to doing she will achieve greatness.