Linda Murphy played volleyball at John Burroughs High School in Burbank, California, and later played for the Los Angeles Volleyball Club and the Long Beach Shamrocks. Murphy played on successful US teams at the 1967 World Championships, winning a silver medal, and the 1963 and 1967 Pan American Games, winning silver and gold medals respectively. Murphy helped the Shamrocks win eight national titles between 1962-70. In 1971 she received the USA Volleyball All-Time Great Player award. She later became a volleyball coach at her old high school, coaching Burroughs High from 1984-2002.