If you were to look up the definition of inspiration, Samantha Michel would be the answer to the description. Since grade school, Michel started playing ball and soon found herself in love with the game by the time sophomore year in high school arrived. One player that Michel admires is Uconn’s national champion and WNBA legend, Rebecca Lobo. “Ever since 1^st grade, I’ve always admired her (Lobo's) work ethic,” states Michel. After her spectacular career at Apex High School, Michel would take her talents to Northeastern University to play for the women’s basketball team. During her two years (2017-2019) at Northeastern, she got the feel of experiencing college basketball. After playing for two years for Northeastern, she transferred to Anderson University to continue to her basketball career.

By the time she arrived at Anderson University, Michel immediately became a huge factor for the Trojans. In the 2020-21 season, Samantha played all 24 games with 10 starts and led the team in rebounds per game (6.7), blocks per game (2.5), field goal percentage (51.5%), and points per game (10.4). Her impact on the team throughout the season led her to be named SAC (South Atlantic Conference) Player of the Week, SAC Second Team, and SAC Defensive Player of the Year.

Academics are important to Michel as she excels in the classroom. When asked how she managed to balance both academics and athletes, Michel states “For me, it was quite easy honestly but only because I had a very organized system that I didn't stray away from. Being a student-athlete, you must prioritize your school work to be able to focus and spend extra time on the court.” As an undergrad, Michel excelled and completed a Bachelor’s in Communications with a minor in Media and Screen Studies. With the platform of being a student-athlete, Michel has applied her major with social media as she takes on the role of social media manager for a prominent basketball company and non-profit sports marketing/event company, PassThaBall, and is the access for young women that can have someone they can relate to. “Basketball has blessed me with so much, so I want to give back to the young athletes as well. As the coverage of women’s basketball continues to increase, Michel explains how this year’s draft was an example of how amazing the game is along with the talent and impact that is displayed by the players.

When asked about what makes her and her story stand out, Samantha provides the deepest and most powerful answer, “My Strength. I have struggled with my social anxiety since I was a little kid, and when I was a junior in college, I was diagnosed with manic depression/bipolar syndrome. On top of being a student-athlete, it felt like my world turned upside down, and in November of 2019, I attempted to take my own life and flat-lined twice. When I came to, I realized that God is using me as a vessel for others in my shoes. Life is scary and overwhelming, and people can be cruel but I learned that you cannot let that stop you or discourage you. For me, social media was a chance for me to open up and gain confidence in ways that I couldn't do in real life. It gave me a platform to share my story and connect with people all over. I am not ashamed or shy of my past actions because they all taught me lessons. My purpose in life is to plant seeds wherever I go with whoever I meet, and I believe that is what stands out about me and my story. I just want to share my story with everyone because I wish I had someone to relate to when I needed it the most.” The amount of courage and strength that Michel exemplifies, she advises all the athletes that want to take their game to the next level to “never give up!”

Currently, Samantha is now the Creative Director for Marketing and Recruiting for the University of Utah Women’s Basketball team after getting an MBA in Leadership at Anderson University. For more info on Samantha Michel, be sure to follow her on Instagram: sammimichel