Born in New York City,[1] Breland grew up in Kelford, North Carolina,[1] and attended Bertie High School in Windsor where she was a three-sport athlete participating in volleyball and track & field and basketball.

In her senior year she averaged 22 points per game and 12 rebounds for the Falcons basketball team.

She was an All-American selection by McDonald's, the WBCA, and Parade Magazine, 2nd team All-American selection by EA Sports, 3rd-Team Street and Smith's All-America pick, Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina as a senior, and a USA U18 Women's National Team Trials Invitee.

[2] In 2009, when playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Breland was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer of the lymph system.

[3][4][5] Source[6] Breland was selected in the second round of the 2011 WNBA draft (13th overall) by the Minnesota Lynx.