Born in Orlando, Florida, Phillips attended the University of Georgia during her first three college years, and helped its Lady Bulldogs team to the NCAA Regional Finals in 1987 and 1988.

After the ABL abruptly folded, Phillip was selected by her hometown team, the Orlando Miracle in the first round (eighth overall) of the WNBA draft on May 4, 1999.

Phillips was named to the USA team for the 1993 World University Games competition in Buffalo, New York.

[1] Phillips was selected to represent the US at the 1995 USA Women's Pan American Games, however, only four teams committed to participate, so the event was cancelled.

[2] In 2002, Phillips was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Zhangjiagang, Changzhou and Nanjing, China.