From one court to another: Mullens builds career in athlete advocacy
Machia Mullens’ path from southwest Kansas gyms to the legal side of college athletics has come full circle, with sports still at the center of her life — just from a different seat at the table.
Mullens, featured on the cover of Kansas Pregame’s 2019 Winter Edition for her play at Liberal High School, is a third-year law student at the University of Colorado, where she is preparing to begin her professional career after accepting a full-time position with The Harris Law Firm following her graduation in May 2026.
She currently works as a law clerk, assisting with the development of the firm’s sports and entertainment practice and focusing on NCAA eligibility, name, image and likeness opportunities, and athlete advocacy.
“My goal is to serve as a trusted resource for athletes and their families, ensuring they feel empowered, protected, and confident as they pursue their dreams both on and off the court,” Mullens said.
That purpose is rooted in Liberal, Kan., where Mullens established herself as a standout multi-sport athlete at Liberal High School. She competed in basketball, volleyball and track, played AAU basketball with Ohlde Elite, and thrived in competitive environments that helped shape her leadership skills.
She finished her prep basketball career as a first-team all-conference selection, Junior Female Athlete of the Year and a second-team all-state honoree while helping Liberal to a 22-1 season, a WAC championship and a 5A state berth.
“Being part of competitive team environments at a young age taught me discipline, accountability, and the importance of advocating for myself and others,” Mullens said.
Mullens carried that mindset to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she played Division I women’s basketball for now-Oklahoma State head coach and Hoxie alum Jacie Hoyt and earned multiple Summit League academic honors. As a junior during the 2022-23 season, she appeared in all 31 games and made 20 starts, averaging 5.3 points and 6 rebounds while ranking among the league’s top rebounders in conference play. She recorded three double-doubles and anchored the Roos’ frontcourt during her most productive collegiate season.
Her impact was not limited to the hardwood, as she served as the Summit League representative on the NCAA Division I Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, advocating for student-athletes at both the conference and national levels.
“Seeing how policy decisions directly impacted athletes’ lives, opportunities, and futures sparked my interest in law and advocacy,” she said.
Mullens graduated from UMKC in 2023, completing her undergraduate degree a year early through an accelerated pre-law track. Now, through law school coursework, NIL practica and compliance experience within Colorado’s athletic department, she continues to blend her basketball background with a purpose-driven legal path — staying connected to the game that helped shape who she is while building a career focused on serving athletes beyond the court.
The Mullens family continues to impact Liberal on the basketball court, as Machia’s younger sister, Maliyah, is in the midst of her sophomore season. She ranks third on the team in scoring at 8.8 points per game and second in rebounding at 4.8 rebounds per game. The Liberal girls are 9-2 on the season and currently fourth in the West substate standings.
As Machia prepares to graduate in May 2026 and begin her work with The Harris Law Firm, she remains focused on building a career centered on NCAA policy, NIL and athlete advocacy. Her path from Liberal High School to college basketball and now law school has kept her closely connected to the issues facing today’s student-athletes, providing the foundation for her next step in college athletics.