It's a banner day for Kelsey Plum and for fans of UW women's basketball: the Huskies legend will see her No. 10 jersey retired at Alaska Airlines Arena during Saturday's face-off against Purdue University, as reported by KOMO News. Plum's career at UW from 2013-17 included numerous records, notably becoming the all-time NCAA scoring leader with 3,527 points until 2024 and setting the single-season scoring record in 2016-17 with 1,109 points, which stood until the end of the 2023-24 season.
This distinction makes Plum the first woman in UW's history to receive this honor, and alumni and fans are expected to pack the arena to the rafters, celebrating not just a player's individual success but a symbol of Husky pride, this according to KING 5, the game starting at 2 p.m. and with the highly-anticipated ceremony scheduled for halftime; and the ever-thoughtful UW Athletics has planned for a little extra Plum flavor by casting 3,000 limited-edition Plum bobbleheads into eager fan hands.
Plum hasn't just been a husky, she soared as a professional after being picked first overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft and continued to fetch accolades as a three-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA champion with the Las Vegas Aces, as detailed by KOMO News. Her skill and determination also translated to international courts where she clinched gold with both U.S. 3x3 and 5x5 Basketball teams at the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris, respectively.
For hoop fans unable to secure a golden ticket to the sold-out event, the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network with A.J. Kanell and Elise Woodward giving the play-by-play and Gary Hill covering the game on 1090 KPTR-AM, but for those still hoping to snag a courtside view, there's a last-minute shot via SeatGeek, the official ticket marketplace of Washington Athletics, this tidbit thanks to gohuskies.com. As her jersey ascends this Saturday, it will not only mark a historic moment for Plum and the university, it will reaffirm the institution's recognition for women's contributions to sports history, a fitting tribute to hard-fought achievements on and off the court.
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