Three-time national champion Deborah Milani, a former Maryland lacrosse midfielder and current Howard County teacher, is competing on FOX’s “The Floor.” She says the pressure and preparation required for the trivia contest echo the demands of high-stakes sports.

By the Numbers
  • Milani won 3 national titles at Maryland.
  • “The Floor” features 100 contestants competing for $250,000.
  • She prepared for her category, female Olympians, with more than 200 PowerPoint slides.
Yes, But

Milani had only a few days’ notice before filming began, and contestants face elimination after losing a timed, one-on-one trivia duel. She says the experience was demanding—but one she’d gladly repeat.

Bottom Line

Milani is bringing the focus and composure she developed at Maryland to a new kind of competition, where preparation may be the difference between staying on the floor and going home.