(Dawg) Class is Back in Session
Following a record-breaking collegiate women’s basketball season, Under Armour and Kelsey Plum are coming together once again to host the second year of Dawg Class, powered by UA NEXT. Taking place at IMG Academy, this three-day camp is designed to help the top collegiate women’s basketball players navigate their journey from college basketball to the professional level. The concept of the camp was born out of Kelsey’s desire to support the next generation of athletes with that transition, which Kelsey knows firsthand can be full of challenges. The name of the camp comes from Kelsey’s now famous ‘dawg mentality” to never give up in the face of adversity.
"Dawg Class is all about changing the game for the next generation of women’s basketball players. All of these athletes have extraordinary talent and skill, and it is my mission to help them with that transition to the next level by cultivating that ‘dawg’ mentality – the grit, self-confidence and work ethic – to continue to succeed and evolve in their careers."
Kelsey Plum
Professional WNBA Player for Las Vegas Aces
This year’s Dawg Class roster includes Georgia Amoore, KK Arnold, Dyaisha Fair, MiLaysia Fulwiley, Aziaha James, Raven Johnson, Ta’Niya Latson, Kate Martin, Nika Muhl, Saniya Rivers and Shyanne Sellers. For Amoore and Johnson, this will be their second year of attending Dawg Class. Each player has been hand-picked by Kelsey because of their skills on the court but also because of their shared dawg mentality, toughness and dedication to hard work they have displayed thus far in their college careers. This year’s roster boasts an incredible amount of talent and accolades, including NCAA Champions, WNBA first round draft picks, and All-Americans, etc.
“I am thrilled to be a part of this year’s Dawg Class and learn from Kelsey about what it takes to ultimately make it to the next level. I hope to come away from the camp with some new skills and tools that can help me elevate my game for next season and unleash that Dawg mentality.”
MiLaysia Fulwiley
Guard for the University of South Carolina and Curry Brand athlete
Led by Kelsey and her performance team, the athletes will go through multiple on-court sessions a day, focusing on skill development and receiving personalized, one-on-one coaching from Kelsey and her team. During on-court training, each athlete will be wearing the latest in design and innovation from UA basketball, the Women's UA Breakthru 5 Lux Basketball Shoes. Specifically designed for women, these shoes offer better support for the movements of today’s female athlete along with an elevated design and a synthetic suede overlay offering lightweight stability with lux material accents. The athletes will also receive the custom Dawg Class apparel from UA’s Unstoppable collection and others.
In addition to on-court skill development, the athletes will also come together for off-court sessions that will cover topics such as training and recovery, mental preparation and approach, brand building, and media training, among others. For Kelsey, this off-court programming is a crucial part of the Dawg Class experience because she feels her own journey could have been smoother with the right guidance. Despite being the #1 overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft and having the support of her family and coaches, she struggled to feel confident moving on to the next level. Reflecting on the difficulty of her own transition, Kelsey knew she wanted to help future athletes and provide tools and insights to help them be more successful during this major change in their lives.
"Having the right game plan off the court is a huge part of succeeding on the court and I want to make sure we are giving these athletes all the tools to maximize their potential when they reach the next level."
Kelsey Plum
Professional WNBA Player for Las Vegas Aces
Invested in their joint commitment to providing access to young women in sports, Under Armour and Kelsey Plum are proud to bring back this platform of Dawg Class together to create a new reality for the next generation of these incredible women athletes.