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University of Washington to Retire Kelsey Plum's Jersey, Honoring Husky Legend in Historic First

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Published on November 02, 2024
University of Washington to Retire Kelsey Plum's Jersey, Honoring Husky Legend in Historic FirstSource: Wikipedia/Lorie Shaull from St Paul, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

In a move that celebrates the accomplishments of one of their most acclaimed athletes, the University of Washington has announced it will retire Kelsey Plum's number 10 jersey. Marking this as a historic moment for the Huskies, Kelsey Plum becomes the first woman in Husky history and the sixth basketball player overall to receive this honor, joining past legends like Bob Houbregs, Brandon Roy, and Isaiah Thomas. Her jersey will hang in the rafters alongside these greats, as reported by FOX5 Vegas. This gesture underscores her profound impact on the program, from scoring records to a trailblazing WNBA career, and serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes everywhere.

The university has marked the ceremony for January 18, 2025, during a matchup against Purdue, welcoming the Husky community to join in the celebration of Plum's towering legacy at the Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, aptly renaming the event as the Forever 10 celebration, which encapsulates her lasting impact on women's basketball and Husky pride, as stated in a statement obtained by UW Athletics.

"I'm forever proud to be a Husky and UW is a special place that fundamentally shaped me both as a basketball player and as a person," Plum said about the honor, and she looks forward to the celebration with family, friends, and alumni, adding she will savor the sight of her jersey in the rafters; this quote provided by UW Athletics reflects the sentiment of countless fans and fellow Huskies.

Fans will have a chance to honor Plum at today's Homecoming football game, where she’s set to be recognized between quarters. Her storied career is not only revered in the college ranks but also acknowledged on the world stage, with achievements ranging from WNBA championships to Olympic gold medals. It's a sports narrative rich with accomplishments, and she's not stopping yet, as per a statement made by UW Athletics.

The Forever 10 campaign, which captures Kelsey Plum's profound journey from a record-setting NCAA scorer to an eminent figure in women’s basketball, signals the university's intention to immortalize her storied career for years to come, with the jersey retirement simply cementing what many have known all along—Kelsey Plum’s legacy at UW is unparalleled and enduring, as noted by UW Athletics.