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Basketball star to give address on Dec. 18
October 28, 2022
Katie Smith, former Ohio
State women’s basketball player, Olympian and WNBA coach, will be the speaker
at The Ohio State University’s autumn commencement.
Katie Smith playing for Ohio State
The ceremony will be held on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 2 p.m. at the
Schottenstein Center, with approximately 3,600 diplomas issued.
“Olympian. WNBA champion
and coach. Big Ten champion. Record-breaking Buckeye. Katie Smith knows what it
takes to win, and she is dedicated to teaching others how to do it – both on
and off the court,” said President Kristina M. Johnson. “Smith’s message
of how perseverance, dedication, and hard work breeds success in all aspects of
life – be they in the gym, the boardroom, or any other arena – is one I believe
will be invaluable for our graduates, their friends and family, and our entire
campus community.
“We couldn’t be more excited that she will be speaking at autumn
commencement. I am looking forward to hearing from her and to welcoming her
back to campus.”
Smith was a forward on Ohio State’s women’s basketball team from
1993-1996. She broke the
Big Ten’s scoring record, for both men and women, and was named Big Ten
Conference Player twice. The university retired her number, 30, after she
graduated. She completed her bachelor’s in 2008 and also earned a
master’s at Ohio State in 2014.
Smith spent 15 years playing in the WNBA. She was a seven-time All-Star,
won two WNBA Championships and was named to the league’s W25, the top-25
players in its 25-year history. She is also a three-time Olympian, winning gold
medals with the USA national team in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
After retiring from play, Smith coached the WNBA’s New York
Liberty before joining the Minnesota Lynx’s coaching staff in 2020. She was
named associate head coach in 2022. She has been inducted into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
