Dawg Pilates
Kelsey Plum, WNBA star and Olympic Gold Medalist, and her creation of Dawg Class
I first began working with players and teams in the WNBA in late 2018, the off season before spring training camp in April 2019. My first connection was with the Seattle Storm and the icon Sue Bird. From there, I’ve journeyed deeper into work with players across the league and love every minute of it.
Training Kelsey Plum is a total honor and treat. She is so so incredibly driven in her training. Intelligent, effective training. So of course classical Pilates is part of it. She’s dedicated to classical Pilates mat work daily - she does my videos before every game, pre-lift and training session, on recovery days or travel days, and ramps up to build more advanced work in the WNBA off season with longer or live full classes.
When Kelsey launched the DAWG CLASS training/mentoring event for the best NCAA collegiate guards in the game, and asked me to be there on the coaching staff as the Pilates teacher, her Pilates teacher, it was a complete yes! 2023 was the first class, and here are some photos from the 2024 class. Kelsey is generous with these younger players, wanting them to know and experience every aspect of the best, smartest training so they are more prepared for the jump from college to pro. She’s mentoring the younger players in the game, and she’s willing to share her journey, her coaches, her habits with this select group of very talented collegiate athletes.
Kelsey is an Under Armour athlete, leading the way also as a female athlete claiming big sponsorships and entrepreneurial opportunities. You can hear Kelsey talk more about her creation of this camp for NCAA stars here on her Instagram.
“Kelsey Plum struggled on her transition from college basketball to becoming a pro but navigated through her challenges by keeping a Dawg mentality. Her new camp, Dawg Class, will help women college athletes bridge the gap to a professional level. Kelsey leads with grit, drive, and passion never giving up when challenges begin to rise.”
So annually in the spring, between the end of the NCAA college season and the beginning of the WNBA season, Kelsey hosts the Dawg Class intensive 3 day training camp. She’s a mentor. She’s inspiring. She’s a giver. She believe in the game and she knows how to train right to stay at the top of her own game.
"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." - KP
You’ll see from the images, 2024 brought a new aspect to the camp and to my teaching… PUPPY PILATES! It was pure joy. It was a recovery stretchy type of Pilates workout, outside and meant to inspire community, connection, play, joy and ease. So fun!