Alissa Mildebrath grew up in Carol Stream, Illinois, and attended West Chicago Community High School, where she played basketball and softball all four years. She excelled in both sports, earning Team Most Valuable Player honors in basketball and First Team All-State accolades in softball.

Mildebrath entered Lake Forest College in the fall of 2001 and went on to earn four varsity letters in both sports. She helped the basketball team claim a Midwest Conference title as a freshman and was named the Foresters’ Most Improved Player as a sophomore. Mildebrath played in 95 of a possible 99 games during her career and Lake Forest was 71-28 overall and 39-15 in conference play during that span. She made an even greater impact, however, on the softball field. Mildebrath led the team with eight home runs – a program record at the time – as a freshman and helped lead the Foresters to a conference title and NCAA Division III runner-up finish that season. She was named 2002 MWC South Division Player of the Year and Second Team All-Great Lakes Region and earned a spot on the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team. Lake Forest captured four league championships and made four NCAA Tournament appearances during Mildebrath’s career and she earned all-conference and all-region honors each year. As a sophomore she batted a career-high .404 and was named First Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Mildebrath was a team captain as a junior and senior and finished her four years as the Foresters’ career leader with 169 base hits, 110 runs scored, 15 home runs, and 252 total bases. She also ranked second in team annals with 30 doubles and 72 runs batted in. Lake Forest was 112-53 overall and 39-13 in conference play during her career.

While at Lake Forest, Mildebrath was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. She graduated from the College in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Mildebrath later earned a master’s degree in secondary education from Arizona State University and pursued a career in teaching and coaching.