Born in Lucedale, Mississippi, she played at the collegiate, Olympic and professional levels of women's basketball.

Bolton played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 through 2004 with the Sacramento Monarchs.

She played collegiately at Auburn University, teaming with her older sister, Mae Ola Bolton.

On January 22, 1997, Bolton was selected with the 13th pick of the initial player allocation for the 1997 WNBA draft by the Sacramento Monarchs.

Her debut game was played on June 21, 1997 in a 73 - 61 win over the Utah Starzz where she recorded 16 points, 11 rebounds and 6 steals.

The first one happening earlier that day on June 21 in a Los Angeles Sparks and New York Liberty matchup where Lisa Leslie recorded 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Bolton would play 8 years in the WNBA from 1997 to 2004, all 8 seasons with the Monarchs and she was one of the franchise's marquee players.

To make matters worse, the first year that Bolton wasn't on the team, the Monarchs finally overcame the hurdle and won their first WNBA Championship in 2005 by defeating the Connecticut Sun 3 - 1 in a best-of-five series.

Due to losing her father, being coerced into retiring and having to watch the Monarchs win their first championship immediately after she left the team, Bolton says that she felt abandoned by the franchise and that every aspect of her life came to a screeching halt.

"[5] Bolton was named to the team representing the US at the World University Games held during July 1991 in Sheffield, England.

The USA shot only 36% from the field, but limited the team from China to 35%, and won 79–76 to advance to the gold medal game.

[8] The national team traveled to Berlin, Germany in July and August 1998 for the FIBA World Championships.

Bolton hit a three pointer in the second half to give her team the lead, as part of a 16-point scoring effort, and the USA went on to win 93–79.

In this function, she has traveled to Armenia, Australia, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia to conduct basketball clinics for approximately 1300 youth and women worldwide.

Ruthie Bolton continues to work with the Golden State Warriors participating in many of their youth camps.

Ruthie Bolton is a published author who has written two books (1) From Pain to Peace and (2) The Ride of a Lifetime.