When you look at the history of women’s NCAA basketball, not many players would be remembered as vividly as Kelsey Plum.
For most of the period from 2013 through 2017, the University of Washington was her home, and it was during this period that Plum not only broke records but also reinvented the concept of performance on the basketball court for the Huskies’ program.
The unbelievable scoring ability she displayed, as well as her leadership and never-give-up attitude, were responsible for Washington being a team to be reckoned with as they had never been before, and an example of this was their first-ever Final Four entry in 2016.
Kelsey Plum’s Unparalleled College Career
Kelsey Plum’s college career was truly amazing. She finished her time at the University of Washington as the all-time leading scorer in NCAA Women’s Division I basketball, with a jaw-dropping 3,527 points (a record that remained until early 2024).
In her final year, Plum broke the single-season scoring record with 1,109 points, at 31.7 points per game, while shooting an outstanding 52.9% from the field and 42.8% from behind the three-point line.
She crushed the 57-point barrier against Utah on February 25, 2017, not just by setting a Pac-12 single-game record but also by taking the number one spot in the NCAA history scoring chart at that time.
Kelsey Plum was once the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. A four-star recruit out of high school, she averaged (31.7) points per game—still the highest scoring average ever recorded by a Power 4 player—while shooting an absurd 53% from the field, 43% from three, and 89% from the… pic.twitter.com/HsWB3gBNzr
— I talk hoops 🏀 (@trendyhoopstars) April 20, 2025
Beyond the numbers, Plum’s impact was transformative for the Washington Huskies. She led the team to a program-record 29 wins in the 2016–17 season and guided them to their first-ever Final Four appearance in 2016. Her leadership and tenacity elevated the program’s national profile, inspiring a new generation of athletes and fans alike.
Plum’s relative obscurity in mainstream discussions, even despite her historic accomplishments, was due to multiple things.
One of the reasons that made visibility limited was the fact that she played for a team on the West Coast, and most of her games were scheduled late at night, which limited the exposure of these events to the East Coast audience.
Furthermore, her college career overlapped with the powerhouse status of players like Breanna Stewart and A’ja Wilson, who typically were in the limelight at the national level. No NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) opportunities at the time also contributed to less national visibility and endorsement.
Moreover, some have cited the lack of a national championship on her résumé as a reason for her diminished spotlight. However, this perspective overlooks the context of her achievements—leading a program without a storied basketball history to unprecedented success is a testament to her exceptional talent and leadership.
The unexpected and rapid growth of athletes like Caitlin Clark, who in 2024 surpassed Plum’s scoring record, has rekindled the audience’s passion for women’s college basketball. It’s also okay for new players to take the limelight, but the pioneering contributions to the sport should not be erased from history, and it is crucial to keep their memory alive.
Clark’s feat of breaking Plum’s record and Plum’s reply of giving a shout to Clark are just two of many examples that clearly show her character and legacy.
Kelsey Plum’s college career stands as a beacon of excellence, resilience, and transformative impact. Her records and accolades are not just numbers but narratives of determination and leadership.
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As the landscape of women’s basketball continues to evolve, it’s imperative to celebrate and remember pioneers like Plum, whose contributions have indelibly shaped the sport’s history and future.
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