Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum has joined the University of Arkansas staff as a graduate assistant the university announced on Tuesday.
“We promise every Razorback and their families that we will surround them with the best possible resources on and off the court during their time in Fayetteville,” Head Coach Mike Neighbors said per release. “Today’s addition of Kelsey Plum to our staff is evidence of keeping that promise.”
Plum played for Neighbors at the University of Washington from 2014-2017 and graduated as one of the most decorated players in NCAA history. Plum holds the NCAA record for most points scored in a career finishing with 3,527 points.
“As a graduate assistant, Kelsey will be responsible for preparing our players for their transition from life as Division I athletes to life as professionals, whether that will be in basketball or in another chosen career path. Using her own experiences, as well as those she’s witnessed in her career, Kelsey will give our student-athletes a rare look into the behaviors and habits of one of the best players on the planet,” Neighbors continued. “I cannot wait to catalog how many ways Kelsey’s addition will positively impact the lives of our players, both for the next four years and the next forty that follow.”
Following graduation, Plum was selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars. She has remained with the franchise following the relocation to Las Vegas in 2018 but missed the 2020 season due to an Achilles injury. She is expected to return to the Aces for 2021 and has averaged 8.9 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game in just under 25 minutes per game.
Plum has also spent time as on-camera talent and broadcast analyst for various PAC-12 women’s games and is set to represent Team USA during the 2021 Olympics.
