This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2025 semester.
Michailla Springs led her high school basketball team in scoring and earned MVP honors. With a reputation for getting things done, Springs signed her letter of intent to play basketball at UC Merced, just as the university begins its transition into Division II athletics. She will also join the first cohort in one of UC Merced’s newest academic programs.
Where I come from: I’m from Lathrop and graduated from Manteca High School.
What I've done: I was named Athlete of the Year at Manteca High and given the title “Queen of the Court” by my coaches and peers for my ability to dominate and get stuff done both on the court and in the classroom. I played basketball, tennis, and track and field throughout high school and earned first-team all-league honors in basketball and tennis. During my junior year, our basketball team won the Valley Oak League (VOL) championship, and we went on to compete in the section finals at the Golden One Center. I also earned four consecutive VOL scholar-athlete awards and was on the honor roll all four years with a 4.2 GPA. I served as student body vice president and earned the seal of biliteracy in Spanish. I’m also the founder and president of Women of Worth, a club that creates a space for women to support and empower each other.
Why are you excited about coming to UC Merced? UC Merced gives me the best of both worlds. I’ll have a great academic experience, and I can continue to play basketball. I’m excited to be part of so many new things. I’ll be joining the women’s basketball team as they move into Division II, and I’ll be in the first class of the new Communication and Media program. After visiting campus, I already felt an immediate connection with Coach Kellie (Bernard) and the rest of the team.
Academic and personal goals: I plan to pursue a career in sports marketing. If possible, I would like to continue playing tennis. I hope I can leave a legacy with the women’s basketball team.
You can keep only three apps on your phone. What are they? Minecraft is a must-have. It’s one of my most used apps. I’d also keep TikTok for both entertainment and informational purposes. Lastly, I would keep my Messages app to keep in touch with friends and family.
My secret talent is: I’m great at drawing analogies. I’m always finding ways to relate one thing to another through comparisons. I’m also a really good hula hooper. I won a competition in San Diego when I was in the second grade.
You can teleport anywhere in the world for a three-day weekend. Where do you go? I would go to Hawaii. Chilling on the beach and watching the sunset sounds like a great time.
Quotable: “Don’t cry when your plate is full if your goal was to eat.”
