With her college basketball career nearing its end and a professional career in her plans, Quay Miller has taken some time to contemplate what life would be like without the game.
“It’s just exciting to see what my future could look like,” she said. “I’d probably be a principal or go to culinary school. Something for sure helping people. Or cooking of some sort.”
It’s a fitting response for a young woman who, in addition to being a great player for the Colorado women’s basketball team, has built a reputation for helping others and being a great human off the court.
“She’s just meant so much (to the program),” CU head coach JR Payne said. “She’s one of the most unselfish, loving human beings I’ve ever known and she’s just been a huge part of our success.”
On Saturday, the 13th-ranked Buffaloes will honor Miller and five others during the annual Senior Day celebration ahead of their matchup with Washington State.
Jaylyn Sherrod, an all-time great point guard for the Buffs, headlines the list of seniors, while guards Maddie Nolan and Tameiya Sadler, center Charlotte Whittaker and walk-on guard Sophie Gerber will also be honored.
Each of the six has a unique story, including Miller, a 6-foot-3 forward who didn’t start her career at CU but couldn’t be happier to end it here.
“I like the Buff nation,” she said. “They’re very welcoming and I’m happy to be a part of them.
“I love our fans, and I love my fans. I like to see them when I’m playing and I like to see them when I’m out and about.”
Coming out of Kentridge High School in Renton, Wash., in 2019, Miller was recruited by Payne and assistant coach Alex Earl, but chose to stay close to home and play for the Washington Huskies.
A key reserve as a freshman, Miller started every game for the Huskies as a sophomore, averaging 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds. In the 2021 Pac-12 tournament, she and Sadler were pivotal in the 11th-seeded Huskies’ surprising 68-54 upset of No. 6-seeded CU, ending the Buffs’ hopes of reaching the NCAA Tournament.
About six weeks later, Miller and Sadler made the decision to transfer to CU. Miller has never regretted her choice.
“I think that was just very critical, especially understanding what I wanted,” she said of transferring. “I think that when I transferred, I still didn’t really understand what I wanted but I knew that I was coming to a space where I’d be comfortable, knowing JR and coach Alex; knowing them since high school, knowing that they still had love for me the same way when they recruited me, even when I didn’t choose to come here to start my career.”
Miller knew something else about the Buffs, too. Although she helped orchestrate an upset of the Buffs, Miller had two losing seasons in Seattle and the Huskies were about to start over with a new coach. CU, meanwhile, had upset No. 1 Stanford in that 2020-21 season and then made a run to the WNIT quarterfinals.
“They were one of the teams that knew how to compete,” Miller said. “I came here with the thought in my mind being like, ‘This is literally one of the only Pac-12 teams that has beaten Stanford,’ and to me that just spoke volumes to the culture and the mindset of Colorado,” she said. “When I came here I understood how they were able to do so.
“So, yeah, I definitely don’t regret this decision.”
In her three seasons with the Buffs, Miller has been an integral part of a growing program that snapped a nine-year NCAA Tournament drought in 2022, reached the Sweet 16 in 2023 and has spent most of this year ranked among the top 10 nationally.
Although not a starter in 2021-22, Miller was voted the Pac-12’s sixth player of the year. Last year, she earned first-team all-conference honors. Despite playing just three seasons in Boulder, Miller is one of only 35 players in program history to top 1,000 career points (1,039) and she’s 16th in career rebounds (673). Add in the Washington years and Miller has racked up 1,400 points and 889 rebounds in her stellar career.
Originally forced by her mother to play basketball, Miller grew to realize her potential and what the game could do for her. She’s grateful that being good enough be on scholarship saved her from the stress that others have in trying to get through college.
“Without basketball obviously I wouldn’t be in the position that I’m in now,” she said.
She is positioned to play professionally, either in the WNBA or overseas. She’s positioned for a bright future off the court, too.
Miller’s also not too worried about the future just yet. She’s not done making memories with the Buffs, and that includes focusing on each moment.
“I’m just taking it day by day,” she said. “I’ve shifted my mindset to not really think about like, ‘Oh, it’s coming to an end’ or this and that. I’m just like, ‘Oh, yeah, we’ve got film and practice in an hour.’
“I don’t think (the end has) hit me yet and I’m just soaking it all in.”
No. 13 CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Washington State Cougars
TIPOFF: Saturday, 1 p.m., CU Events Center
TV/RADIO: Pac-12 Network/630 AM
RECORDS: Colorado 21-7 (11-6 Pac-12); Washington State 17-13 (6-10 Pac-12)
COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 8th season (140-100; 241-213 career). Washington State — Kamie Ethridge, 7th season (91-88; 174-132 career).
KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (12.7 ppg, 2.3 apg, 1.1 spg, .441 FG%, .418 3PT%, .931 FT%); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (9.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, .337 3PT%); G Maddie Nolan, 5-11, Sr. (6.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, .448 3PT%); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (12.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.6 apg, 2.1 spg, .459 FG%); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, Jr. (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .566 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Jr. (5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.0 apg, 1.8 spg, .466 FG%). Washington State — G/F Beyonce Bea, 6-1, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .517 FG%); C Bella Murekatete, 6-3, Sr. (12.4 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 1.7 spg, .524 FG%); G Astera Tuhina, 5-9, So. (9.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.4 spg, .425 3PT%); G Eleonora Villa, 5-8, Fr. (12.6 ppg, 2.1 apg, .341 3PT%); G Jenna Villa, 6-1, Fr. (6.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .952 FT%); G Tara Wallack, 6-2, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, .469 FG%, .815 FT%).
NOTES: In Payne’s tenure, the Buffs are 6-1 on senior day, including four consecutive wins. … Coming into the final day of the regular season, CU could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth in the Pac-12 standings. Washington State could finish ninth or 10th. … CU is No. 16 in the NET rankings and WSU is No. 26. … WSU leads the all-time series 14-11, but CU is 7-4 against the Cougars in Boulder. … The Buffs lost to the Cougars in the Pac-12 semifinals last year, but have won the last three regular season meetings, including 63-57 in Pullman on Feb. 2. Formann had 27 points. … The Buffs are 11-2 at home, while WSU is 6-6 on the road, including an 82-67 loss at No. 18 Utah on Thursday. … Sherrod needs one point to reach 1,400 for her career. She is also slated to make her 128th career start, which would set a new CU record. … On Jan. 28, WSU upset then-No. 2 UCLA in Los Angeles, but lost top player Charlisse Leger-Walker (13.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 5.1 apg) to a season-ending injury. Since then, the Cougars are 2-7. … Eleonora Villa has averaged 14.9 points since Leger-Walker’s injury.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.