When Kelsey Plum hit the hardwood for the Washington Huskies, she didn’t just play basketball—she conducted a scoring clinic. There were points everywhere—buckets rained down like confetti at a championship parade. But recently, the Las Vegas Aces star found herself in the headlines for something other than her scoring prowess: Coach Becky Hammon gave her a verbal beatdown during the Aces’ semifinal Game 2 loss to the New York Liberty. Ouch! Not exactly the pep talk you’d expect for an All-Star guard.
But hold up! Before anyone starts thinking Plum is only trending for getting chewed out on national TV, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. The 5’8” dynamo didn’t just break records at Washington—she obliterated them. She practically invented new records to break. Her college career is like a fine work of art, best viewed with jaw firmly on the floor.
The Dawn of Plumination
From 2013 to 2017, Kelsey Plum was a one-woman wrecking crew at the University of Washington. In 139 games for the Huskies, she averaged a jaw-dropping 25.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists. Those numbers weren’t just good—they were “move over, everyone else” good. But the show didn’t stop there.
In her senior year, Plum was a scoring machine set to ‘beast mode.’ Averaging a mind-boggling 31.7 points per game, it seemed like she was putting up numbers you’d expect in video games—on easy mode. She also threw in 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists for good measure, shooting an absurd 52.9% from the field and 42.8% from deep. Somewhere out there, Steph Curry probably nodded in approval.
The Night Plum Became a Legend
February 25, 2017. Mark it down. That’s when Plum said, “Hey, Jackie Stiles, your record looks like a nice target to shatter.” Needing 54 points to surpass Stiles’ 16-year-old NCAA Division I scoring record of 3,393 points, Plum casually went out and dropped 57 on Utah, like it was a light afternoon jog. The final score was 84-77, but let’s be honest—Utah just happened to be the bystanders watching history unfold.
She finished her college career with a staggering 3,527 points. That’s more points than some entire teams score in a season! By the time she was done, Plum had collected accolades like a magnet—unanimous AP All-American First Team, AP Women’s Basketball Player of the Year, Dawn Staley Award, Naismith Trophy, Nancy Lieberman Award… the list goes on and on. It’s like every award committee had a meeting and decided, “Just give it all to Plum.”
So Close to Perfection
Despite all this, there’s one club Kelsey couldn’t join—the elusive ‘180 Club’. For those who aren’t stat nerds, this prestigious group is reserved for players who average at least 50% shooting from the field, 40% from beyond the arc, and 90% from the free throw line. It’s basically basketball’s version of being a knighted royalty.
Plum hit 52.9% from the field and 42.8% from three—piece of cake. But her free throw percentage? 88.7%. Missed it by that much. So close, yet so far. That 1.3% must haunt her dreams.
Plum Passes the Torch… with Class
Then came 2024, when Caitlin Clark decided, “Records? What records? Let me go rewrite those.” The Iowa sharpshooter obliterated Plum’s scoring record, finishing her college career with 3,951 points. Most athletes would sulk, throw some shade, or claim they didn’t care. Not Plum.
In a rare show of sportsmanship (and let’s face it, class), Plum was thrilled to see her record go down. “I’m actually very grateful to pass that baton. I’m very happy for her,” she said in an interview, sounding more like a proud big sister than a rival. Of course, she also gave the media a piece of her mind, urging them to treat Clark as more than just a stat machine: “Make sure that we show her love outside of her performance.” Preach, Plum!
What’s Next for Plum?
Right now, Kelsey Plum is busy making waves in the WNBA, trash-talking, dishing out dimes, and hitting deep threes. But her college legacy? That’s etched in stone. It’ll take another Caitlin Clark-level phenomenon to surpass her achievements. And if that day comes, expect Plum to be front and center, cheering her on with a smile—and maybe a witty tweet or two.
Because Kelsey Plum, ladies and gentlemen, is the legend who’s more than happy to pass the torch—just as long as you can handle the heat.