Las Vegas Aces star Kelsey Plum is no stranger to the spotlight on a basketball court.
Plum, a three-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion, has been in plenty of high-pressure situations dating back to her collegiate days at Washington. So, it wasn't much of a surprise when Plum was nothing but cool, calm and collected before shooting clutch free-throw attempts in the waning moments of the Aces' 83–76 win over the Seattle Storm on Tuesday night.
With 33 seconds to play and the Aces leading by six points, Plum stood on the free-throw line and went through her typical routine. Right before she put up a left-handed shot, Plum broke into a huge smile and swished the free throw.
It gave the Aces a seven-point lead, icing the game and securing a spot in the semifinals.
I will never get over Kelsey Plum absolutely GRINNING at the free throw line pic.twitter.com/GOxgLPZjxN
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) September 25, 2024
Tuesday night was far from Plum's first time grinning in a clutch moment at the free-throw line.
She did the same thing earlier this summer during the gold medal game between Team USA and France at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. With the Americans leading by three points with 11.5 seconds to go, Plum grinned right before she swished the game-clinching free-throw attempt.
Kelsey Plum cheesing at the free throw line with the game on the line...elite aura 😮💨😮💨 @Kelseyplum10 pic.twitter.com/Bzhdqv2xre
— Sole Retriever (@SoleRetriever) August 11, 2024
That point mattered, too, as Team USA held off France 67–66 to secure the gold medal.
WNBA fans were loving Plum's big grin Tuesday night:
She is 88.2% at the line for her career. She's grinning because it's gifted points.
— Bobby Paul Johnston (@BobbyPJohnson) September 25, 2024
She has never be serious when it comes to free throw, with eyes close She will hit it. The same thing she did during the Olympic final game against France 🇫🇷 when the whole nation on their toe to win. She was just smiling at the baskets. Free throw confidence 😂
— Taylor (@KhaySwift) September 25, 2024
She’s a menace. 😂
— shannonguestphotography (@sguestphotos) September 25, 2024
Plum scored a game-high 29 points on 11-of-15 shooting to go along with six rebounds and three assists on Tuesday night in Las Vegas's win. Plum and the Aces now advance to the semifinals to battle the New York Liberty—a rematch of the 2023 WNBA Finals that Las Vegas won in four games.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as WNBA Fans Loved What Kelsey Plum Did Before Icing Playoff Game vs. Storm.