If I had to name a player who truly stands out in the WNBA for her off-court achievements, it wouldn’t take me a minute to say: Kelsey Plum. And if you need proof, just look at her love for cigars. Interestingly, that love only developed about three years ago, during a pivotal playoff run with the Las Vegas Aces. Plum had promised the team that if they won, she’d celebrate by smoking a cigar. Well, they did win—and the cigar became more than just a celebratory prop.

Since then, Plum’s appreciation for cigars has grown so much that she even launched her own cigar brand. She lit one up again after the Aces won their second championship ring, and then once more after taking home gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

But cigars aren’t her only off-court highlight. On January 17, 2020, Plum kicked off her broadcasting journey as an analyst for the Pac-12 Network during a game between Arizona State and the University of Washington women’s basketball teams. Still, what’s even more fascinating than all her accolades and ventures is the story behind her journey to becoming the force she is today.

Where is Kelsey Plum from? What’s her nationality?

Born on August 24, 1994, in Poway, California, Kelsey Plum hails from a family with a rich athletic heritage. She’s got sports in her genes; her mother, Katie, was a volleyball player at the University of California, Davis, while her father, Jim, earned All-American honors in football. Naturally, Plum was drawn to sports.

While her two older sisters, Kaitlyn and Lauren, followed their mother’s footsteps and played volleyball, and her younger brother Daniel played football at UC Davis, Plum found herself longing for an entirely different sport. Although she initially leaned toward volleyball, that began to change once she entered high school; basketball gradually stole her heart.

She went on to attend La Jolla Country Day School, where she was named a McDonald’s All-American. And that wasn’t all. Throughout her high school career, she racked up an impressive 2,247 points, 677 rebounds, 381 assists, and 370 steals. Yes, that was Plum in high school—dominating the court. But of course, her journey wasn’t without its share of obstacles!

What is Kelsey Plum’s ethnicity and religion? 

Born to Katie and Jim, Plum is of Caucasian background. Although she is proud of Irish descent, some have referred to her as the “Puerto Rican Princess,” and others have even claimed she has Dominican ancestry.

As for her religion, Plum is a Christian. Notably, she even got her only tattoo on her right forearm, which reads, “Keep the faith,” back in 2018. She has even claimed that this tattoo helped her push through one of the most difficult times in her life. In case you’re unaware, Plum has battled depression during her career.

“It was so intense that it went so far as to sitting on a tall parking structure with her feet hanging over the ledge, considering how her family would feel if she jumped,” reads a statement on Wikipedia. But Plum didn’t let that break her. Today, she openly advocates for mental health awareness. So now you know—she’s not just impressive on the court, but off it too.

Which college did Kelsey Plum attend?

Before she ever set foot on a college court, Kelsey Plum was already making waves. Named a McDonald’s All-American in 2013, she joined a prestigious list of high school stars and earned a spot in the annual McDonald’s All-American Girls Game. Her home state of California took notice, too. Plum was named Ms. Basketball by CalHiSports, a title reserved for the state’s top female player.

This meant she joined the ranks of legends like Diana Taurasi, Courtney Paris, and Candice Wiggins even before her college days began. And that’s not all, she also helped Team USA secure a gold medal in Lithuania. But the most interesting part? While most athletes might have taken a break or headed home to relax, Plum wasn’t one of them.

Instead of flying back to San Diego, she flew straight to Seattle to begin her next chapter at the University of Washington. A teammate picked her up from the airport, and by the end of that very same day, Plum was already in the gym. All that dedication didn’t go unnoticed, as the head coach was so impressed by her that he named her team captain before the season even started, a rare honor for a freshman.

And Plum? She didn’t disappoint. In her first year alone, she shattered six freshman records at Washington, scoring 695 points, the most ever by a freshman, and posting a single-game high of 38 points. By the time she concluded her collegiate career, which spanned from 2013 to 2016, she had become the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer with 3,527 points. So, when she was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft by the San Antonio Stars, it wasn’t a huge surprise.