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Where Are They Now: Michelle Plouffe
6/18/2018 3:01 PM | Women's Basketball
She ranks second in Utah women's basketball history in points and is first in rebounds. She was a three-time All-American and two-time All-Pac-12 selection. With those credentials, Michelle Plouffe was bound for a successful professional career, and with the skills she picked up in Salt Lake City, she has done just that.
Choosing where to play college ball can weigh on student-athletes. Location, facilities, team history can all factor into a decision, but for Plouffe, a familiar connection made her decision an easy one.
"There were many things that gave me a good feeling about coming to Utah," Plouffe said. "The strong Canadian connection was a cool thing for me to see. I also played with Taryn Wicijowki in high school, so already knowing someone on the team gave me a lot more confidence. I had a good connection with the coaching staff, and when I came on my visit to Salt Lake City, the mountains gave me life."
Fast forward to 2014 where Plouffe had racked up 1,171 rebounds (first in school history), 2,100 points (second in school history) and 149 blocks (third in school history) and cemented herself as one of the best players to come through Utah. She earned AP All-America honorable mention honors in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was Pac-12 All-Conference first team in 2013 and 2014.
After an outstanding collegiate career, it was only fitting for Plouffe to go on and do great things as a pro. She was the 19th overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft for the Seattle Storm and is now entering her fifth season in the top division of professional women's basketball in France this fall. Through all of her experiences as a professional basketball player, Plouffe gives credit to her time at the U for helping her prepare for her life as a professional player.
"Being a student-athlete at the U was a great learning experience for me," she said. "I learned how to balance and prioritize my time and energy into what was most important to me at the time."
While the transition from college to professional basketball had some growing pains, the foundation that Plouffe laid for her career while at Utah helped prepare her for the change.
"In the NCAA, there is so much provided for us as athletes in regards to facilities, medical staff, coaching, really anything we needed," she said. "Once you leave that bubble, it is much more independent and autonomous, not to mention you are in a foreign country with a foreign language. Having worked with the trainers and strength coaches at Utah, I was more prepared to be on my own and manage my workouts and schedule."
Whether it was for her teams in France or playing for the Canadian National Team, Plouffe has been a part of some incredible experiences. She has played in two Olympics (Rio, London) for Canada and has been averaging over 13 points a game for her teams in France the past four seasons and while she has enjoyed her time on the court, it has been the experiences off the court that have given her lasting memories.
"One of my favorite things about my job is that I get to experience new cities, countries and cultures," Plouffe said. "I like to be out and about among the locals, hitting up cafes, meeting people, and building a community wherever I am."
When Plouffe isn't competing for her country or her team in France, the Edmonton, Alberta, native gets to team up with her twin sister to give back to their community. In between national team training camps, Plouffe and her sister, Katherine, run an annual camp for high school girls and youth in their hometown to encourage young athletes to have positive experiences on and off the court.
Throughout her career, that positive experience is what has kept her going and while she looks forward to her life after basketball, she isn't quite ready to hang up her shoes yet.
"I am definitely looking forward to starting a family and my life after professional basketball, but not yet," Plouffe said. "I still love what I am doing and though it requires a lot of sacrifices, I believe there is still purpose in continuing this calling."
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Choosing where to play college ball can weigh on student-athletes. Location, facilities, team history can all factor into a decision, but for Plouffe, a familiar connection made her decision an easy one.
"There were many things that gave me a good feeling about coming to Utah," Plouffe said. "The strong Canadian connection was a cool thing for me to see. I also played with Taryn Wicijowki in high school, so already knowing someone on the team gave me a lot more confidence. I had a good connection with the coaching staff, and when I came on my visit to Salt Lake City, the mountains gave me life."
Fast forward to 2014 where Plouffe had racked up 1,171 rebounds (first in school history), 2,100 points (second in school history) and 149 blocks (third in school history) and cemented herself as one of the best players to come through Utah. She earned AP All-America honorable mention honors in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and was Pac-12 All-Conference first team in 2013 and 2014.
After an outstanding collegiate career, it was only fitting for Plouffe to go on and do great things as a pro. She was the 19th overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft for the Seattle Storm and is now entering her fifth season in the top division of professional women's basketball in France this fall. Through all of her experiences as a professional basketball player, Plouffe gives credit to her time at the U for helping her prepare for her life as a professional player.
"Being a student-athlete at the U was a great learning experience for me," she said. "I learned how to balance and prioritize my time and energy into what was most important to me at the time."
While the transition from college to professional basketball had some growing pains, the foundation that Plouffe laid for her career while at Utah helped prepare her for the change.
"In the NCAA, there is so much provided for us as athletes in regards to facilities, medical staff, coaching, really anything we needed," she said. "Once you leave that bubble, it is much more independent and autonomous, not to mention you are in a foreign country with a foreign language. Having worked with the trainers and strength coaches at Utah, I was more prepared to be on my own and manage my workouts and schedule."
Whether it was for her teams in France or playing for the Canadian National Team, Plouffe has been a part of some incredible experiences. She has played in two Olympics (Rio, London) for Canada and has been averaging over 13 points a game for her teams in France the past four seasons and while she has enjoyed her time on the court, it has been the experiences off the court that have given her lasting memories.
"One of my favorite things about my job is that I get to experience new cities, countries and cultures," Plouffe said. "I like to be out and about among the locals, hitting up cafes, meeting people, and building a community wherever I am."
When Plouffe isn't competing for her country or her team in France, the Edmonton, Alberta, native gets to team up with her twin sister to give back to their community. In between national team training camps, Plouffe and her sister, Katherine, run an annual camp for high school girls and youth in their hometown to encourage young athletes to have positive experiences on and off the court.
Throughout her career, that positive experience is what has kept her going and while she looks forward to her life after basketball, she isn't quite ready to hang up her shoes yet.
"I am definitely looking forward to starting a family and my life after professional basketball, but not yet," Plouffe said. "I still love what I am doing and though it requires a lot of sacrifices, I believe there is still purpose in continuing this calling."
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