Before every game, Kelsey Plum spends 5 to 10 minutes visualizing how she wants to show up on the court. And usually, that’s with a huge grin—which is why you’ll often catch her cheesing during intense moments in the action. “Energy is infectious,” she tells Women's Health. “You can’t always control if you make shots, but you definitely can control your energy.”
This month, Kelsey started her eighth season in the WNBA on a new team, the Los Angeles Sparks, and with a new kind of energy—she scored 37 points in her regular-season debut, breaking the record for most points by a player in a WNBA season opener. With that kind of statement-making performance, it's no wonder there's a renewed interest in her tendency to smile on the free throw line. "My dad always taught me that they're free, so anything free is a good time," she told Sole Retriever (with a huge smile, naturally).
The two-time Olympic gold medalist has long been a rock for her teammates, leading the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023; as an Under Armour athlete, she also mentors the next generation of basketball stars at her annual Dawg Class. Her alma mater, the University of Washington, recently retired her #10 jersey—the first women's basketball player to be immortalized in the rafters there.
Kelsey is now entering a new chapter on the Sparks, a team bursting with young talent who will look to her for guidance. “I'm hungry, and I'm just looking forward to this new chapter,” she says. “I've never had that opportunity to have that full leadership role, so walking into it with that mentality, I'm very excited.”
Though she experienced a difficult year personally in 2024, including a highly publicized divorce, she came in clutch on the basketball court through the Paris Olympics and the WNBA playoffs. Faith and family keep her focused on her hardest days, and ultimately, she chooses to live—and play—with maximum joy. “Life is rough,” she says. “Being able to surrender is super important.”
Here are the tools that got her through a life-changing year:
1. Take it step by step.
Every day, Kelsey spends quiet time journaling both short- and long-term goals. “For the Olympics, game by game, I had a vision for what I wanted—even practice by practice,” she says. “I’m always making the most of the day if I’m intentional about what I’m focusing on.”
2. Use social media sparingly.
Kelsey stays off her phone until her morning journaling, meditation, and prayer are complete. “It’s very easy to get swallowed up in all that,” she says. “I’m going to start my day with peace, and from there, good things are going to happen.” And anytime she’s a bit on edge or overstimulated, she’ll log off social media entirely—periodic digital detoxes keep her centered.
3. Speak kindly to yourself.
A self-proclaimed perfectionist, Kelsey consistently uses positive self-talk, like “You’re doing great” and “You belong here”—and she extends that to her teammates too. “I try to make sure I’m encouraging others the way I would want to be encouraged,” she says.
4. Lean on your people.
“When you’re in a really low place, we all need help,” Kelsey says. “It’s very humbling when you realize, I’m not going to be able to perform at this level on my own.” But embracing family and friends who showed up for her in tough times unlocked a new level of gratitude that carried over to her game.
A version of this article originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of Women's Health.
Amanda Lucci is the director of special projects at Women’s Health, where she works on multi-platform brand initiatives and social media strategy. She also leads the sports and athletes vertical, traveling to cover the Paris Olympics, Women’s World Cup, WNBA Finals, and NCAA Final Four for WH. She has nearly 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing social media for national and international publications and is also a NASM-certified personal trainer. A proud native of Pittsburgh, PA, she is a graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. Follow her on Instagram @alucci.
