Forever 10 in the Rafters

Congratulations to Kelsey Plum ’13 on having her jersey retired by the University of Washington. The three-time WNBA All-Star, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time WNBA champion is the first UW women’s basketball player and the sixth Husky ever to receive this honor. On Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, a historic sold-out crowd cheered “Plum Dawg,” and her #10 jersey was raised to the rafters during the halftime “Forever 10” ceremony at the game against Purdue.

Once a Torrey, Always a Torrey
During her time as a Torrey, Kelsey left an unforgettable mark on LJCDS basketball. She led the team to a state title in 2012 and four California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Division IV championships from 2009 to 2013, with a team record of 103–22.




Washinton Huskies

When the celebration of Kelsey’s legacy was announced, the University of Washington Department of Athletics shared her astounding accomplishments under Unmatched Legacy: 

“At Washington (2013–17), Plum became the all-time NCAA scoring leader (3,527 points – stood until 2024) and broke the 33-year-old NCAA career free throw record (912). She broke the single-season NCAA scoring record with 1,109 points in 2016–17 (stood until end of 2023–24 season). Plum became UW’s all-time three-point leader, the Pac-12’s all-time single-season scoring leader, and set the Pac-12 single-game scoring record (57) in an instantly legendary game where she broke Jackie Stiles’s all-time career points record.

In 2017, Plum was named the AP’s, espnW’s, and Pac-12’s Player of the Year, WBCA and USWBA All-America (also in 2016), and Seattle Sports Star of the Year. She was also unanimous AP First-Team All-America, espnW First-Team All-America, and All-Pac-12 selection. In 2017, Plum won the Dawn Staley, Ann Meyers Drysdale, and Nancy Lieberman Awards, and the Wade and Naismith Trophies. 

In 2016, when she led the 7th-seeded Huskies on an historic run to the program’s first ever NCAA Final Four, Plum was named Wooden Award All-American and Naismith Award Semifinalist. Plum was a four-time All-Pac-12 Team honoree, and in 2014 was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year.

Plum was the No. 1 pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, the first No. 1 overall pick in Washington basketball history, shortly before Husky Markelle Fultz was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. She was just the fourth Pac-12 player to be selected No. 1. 

In 2021, Plum was named the WNBA’s Sixth Woman of the Year. Her incredible 2022 season included a starting spot in the WNBA All-Star Game then scoring a WNBA All-Star record 30 points, earning All-Star MVP. Plum capped off the 2022 season being named to the All-WNBA First Team, and ultimately, became an WNBA Champion when the Las Vegas Aces won. Plum earned a second-consecutive WNBA Championship title in 2023 with the Aces.

 

Internationally on Team USA, Plum won historic gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 3x3 Basketball. She was also a member of the 2022 USA Women’s National Team that captured its 11th FIBA World Cup gold medal in Sydney. Most recently, Plum won gold with Team USA Basketball at the 2024 Paris Olympics, helping the USA women secure their eighth straight – and 10th overall – Olympic gold medal.”

“I’m so grateful. Dream big, life will take you wherever you want to go,” Kelsey shared on Instagram. Hear more from Kelsey and see the gallery of photos in the UW Huskies Wire article, “Washington legend Kelsey Plum describes her jersey retirement,” on USA Today Sports.