Kelsey Plum is one of the most electrifying players in women’s basketball today. Whether you know her from her record-smashing college days at the University of Washington, her back-to-back WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces, or her newest chapter with the Los Angeles Sparks, Plum continues to be a name that dominates headlines. Here is a complete guide covering the most frequently asked questions about this elite athlete.
How Old Is Kelsey Plum?
Kelsey Plum was born on August 24, 1994, in Poway, California, making her 31 years old. A Virgo by zodiac sign, she grew up in a household steeped in athletic tradition. Her mother Katie was a volleyball player, while her father Jim earned All-American honors as a football and baseball player. With sports literally in her DNA, it is little surprise that Plum became one of the greatest players her sport has ever seen.
At 31, Plum is firmly in the prime of her career. After playing the first seven seasons of her career with one organization, she was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in January 2025. The guard earned her fourth consecutive All-Star selection and appeared in 43 regular-season games, averaging 19.5 points along with career highs in assists, rebounds, and steals.
Kelsey Plum’s College Career: A Record-Breaking Legend
If you want to understand what makes Kelsey Plum special, start with her college years. Plum played at the University of Washington from 2013 to 2017, where she became the all-time NCAA scoring leader with 3,527 points and broke the single-season NCAA scoring record with 1,109 points in 2016–17.
The moment that defined her college legacy came on February 25, 2017. In the final regular season game of her collegiate career, Plum poured in a Pac-12 record 57 points to pass Jackie Stiles and become the all-time leading scorer in women’s college basketball history. It was a performance for the ages — composed, dominant, and deeply team-oriented. She shot 19-for-28 from the field in the dominant performance, finishing with 57 points in Washington’s 84–77 win over Utah.
She also set NCAA records for most free throws made in a career with 912, and most points in a season with 1,109. She was the first player in Pac-12 Conference history, male or female, to score 3,000 points.
Her senior season awards were equally staggering. Plum won the John R. Wooden Award and led the nation in scoring average at 31.7 points per game, finishing with 3,527 career points and 1,109 points during 2016–17. She also shattered the NCAA’s 33-year-old career free throw record.
It is worth noting that Plum held the all-time NCAA women’s scoring record until Caitlin Clark surpassed it in 2024 — but Plum’s legacy as one of the most prolific offensive players in college basketball history remains untouched.
Plum graduated from the University of Washington in June 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology.
Kelsey Plum’s Ethnicity and Family Background
Kelsey Plum is of Caucasian ethnicity and holds American nationality. She is the daughter of Katie and Jim Plum and was born into an athletic family. She has two elder sisters, Kaitlyn and Lauren, both of whom followed their mother’s footsteps and played volleyball.
Plum completed her high school education at La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla, a community that is part of San Diego, California. She was named a McDonald’s All-American in 2013 before heading to the University of Washington, setting the stage for a legendary four-year career.
Is Kelsey Plum Gay?
Kelsey Plum’s personal life has been a topic of public curiosity over the years. Some earlier reports fueled speculation about her sexuality, but more recent information states that Kelsey Plum’s sexual orientation is straight.
The most publicly known chapter of her romantic life was her marriage to NFL tight end Darren Waller. Kelsey Plum married Darren Waller on March 4, 2023. Within a week, Waller was traded coast-to-coast, and a divorce petition was filed on April 23, 2024. Plum described herself as “devastated” in public comments following the split.
Plum has not publicly identified her sexual orientation beyond her well-documented heterosexual relationship, and it is vital for fans and media to respect her choice to keep aspects of her personal life private.
Kelsey Plum’s WNBA Career Highlights
Plum’s professional career has been nothing short of remarkable. As a member of the Las Vegas Aces organization, she received All-Rookie honors, was named WNBA Sixth Player of the Year in 2021, earned All-WNBA First Team designation in 2022, and featured prominently in the franchise’s back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. In the first three games of the 2023 Finals, Plum averaged 26.0 points and 2.0 steals on 49.1% shooting from the field.
Her move to the Sparks in 2025 proved she had no intention of slowing down. Averaging 19.5 points (fourth in the WNBA), 5.7 assists (fifth), and 1.2 steals per game, Plum led the league in fourth-quarter points per game and matched the WNBA record for games with at least 20 points and five assists in a single season with 18 such performances.
The selection for the 2025 AP All-WNBA Second Team marked her second career selection to an AP All-WNBA Team, having previously earned First Team honors in 2022.
Off the court, Plum also landed a broadcasting role with Prime Video Sports during the 2025 season, offering fans a current player’s perspective on the game she loves.
Most recently, the Los Angeles Sparks re-signed Plum, and she set a WNBA record for most points by a player in their season opener with 37 points.
A Champion, a Record-Breaker, and a Voice for the Game
Beyond the stats and titles, Kelsey Plum has become one of the most important voices in women’s basketball. As a key figure in the WNBA Players Association, she has been central to CBA negotiations, pushing for a greater share of league revenue for players — a fight she has pursued publicly and passionately.
She has also been open about her mental health struggles, including battling depression during her career, and uses her platform to advocate for mental health awareness. Her forearm tattoo reading “Keep the Faith” is a testament to the resilience that defines her both on and off the court.
At 31, Kelsey Plum is not just a basketball player — she is a cultural force, a trailblazer, and a competitor who refuses to be defined by anything other than her own extraordinary standards.
Think you know everything about Kelsey Plum? Drop a comment below with your favorite moment from her career, and stay tuned as her story continues to unfold!