The University of Washington women’s basketball retired the jersey of school legend Kelsey Plum on Saturday. The No. 10 jersey went to the rafters after Plum's historic stint with the Huskies from 2013-14 to 2016-17.
Among her numerous achievements were record-breaking scoring exploits, which included the all-time women’s scoring mark before Caitlin Clark broke it in 2024.
Plum shared photos of the special event on Instagram, prompting Kate Martin, Plum’s former Las Vegas Aces teammate to react:
“Congrats!”
Martin joined the Aces last year as a surprising second-round pick from Iowa. She joined a team that had won the WNBA the past two seasons, behind A’ja Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Plum. Although they couldn't accomplish a three-peat, Martin became a team and fan favorite.
During the 2024 WNBA draft, Martin was quite jittery. She went to the event to support her best friend Caitlin Clark, who was the Indiana Fever's No. 1 pick. Plum, ahead of her jersey retirement, was just as nervous.
"It's gonna finally hit me during the game, but, for now, I'm just trying to take as much of it in as I can.”
Kelsey Plum became the first women’s basketball player to earn such recognition from the Huskies.
The jersey retirement didn't surprise many as the sharpshooting guard put the team in the spotlight during her stint with the program. The 57 points Plum scored in February 2017 against Utah still stands as the single-game scoring record in the Pac-12.
Plum was only 270 points off the all-time NCAA Division 1 scoring record of Pete Maravich when she decided to turn pro.
Kelsey Plum called Kate Martin an “amazing sponge” in the backup guard’s rookie season
Kate Martin hardly saw minutes for the Las Vegas Aces in her rookie season. Martin was buried in the rotation behind stars Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Sydney Colson and Tiffany Hayes.
Still, Martin remained ready and usually did her job when asked to contribute by coach Becky Hammon. Plum said about the then-rookie:
"Kate Martin is awesome. Kate Martin picks up things so quickly, she's an amazing sponge. I think Becky nicknamed her Kate 'Money' Martin. I think that's gonna stick.”
Next season, Martin will no longer play for the Aces. She had been picked by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft. Her friendship with Plum and former teammates remain strong, though.