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WNBA Decides Washington Huskies Kelsey Plum Is Top Rated Prospect

ByBret Stuter|
Apr 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) dribbles the ball as Syracuse Orange guard Cornelia Fondren (11) defends during the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Orange won 80-59. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum (10) dribbles the ball as Syracuse Orange guard Cornelia Fondren (11) defends during the fourth quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Orange won 80-59. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

University of Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum was selected top overall pick by the San Antonio Stars in the 2017 WNBA Draft|

The fact that Washington Huskies guard Kelsey Plum was the top pick of the 2017 WNBA Draft was not surprising. The true story is the career in the NCAA that launched her to the top selected player in the 2017 WNBA Draft.

Kelsey Plum set an NCAA-record 3,527 points over the course of her time with the Washington Huskies.  As a result, she landed the AP National Player of the Year award after scoring 1,109 points in her final year. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 31.7 points per game in the 2016-17 season and 25.4 per game for her career.  She led the Huskies to three NCAA tournaments, and into the final four in 2015-2016.

The senior guard hails from Poway, California and has been a true leader of the team.  While scoring has always been her forte, she also contributed 5.1 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game as a senior while shooting 52.9 percent from the field and 42.8 percent from the three-point line.

Its her accuracy which lends her to the marquis place in the WNBA draft, a place she has earned.

First And Fit

And so, the only consideration now is fit.  Will Kelsey Plum make her mark on the San Antonio Stars?

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According to the WNBA stats website, the fit is glaringly obvious. The San Antonio Stars struggle offensively.  The team is dead last in offensive rating, a clear seven points rating behind the next team in the list.  The Stars need offensive help at virtually all statistics, but most of all in shooting accuracy.

Plum’s offense gives the team a boost in those vital statistics. In fact, if she can maintain her UW production, she automatically becomes the team’s perimeter threat. It will be something worth observing to see if the Stars commit Plum to a point guard role as a rookie, or exploit her shooting by slotting her as an undersized shooting guard.

Next: Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Coaching Search Narrowing

In the end, Kelsey Plum has earned national recognition as an NCAA record setter.  And now, she hopes to keep the national focus upon her as she joins the ranks of the WNBA.

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