Ohio State's autumn commencement ceremony in December will have one of the university's most decorated athletes as one of its guest speakers.
Former women's basketball forward Katie Smith, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame member, will attend the event and provide words of encouragement and wisdom to an expected class of around 3,600 graduates.
“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,” Ohio State President Kristina M. Johnson said in a press release. “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 star for the Buckeyes from 1993-96, collecting 2,578 points across those seasons to break the Big Ten scoring red for both men's and women's basketball while being named the conference's player of the year twice. Her No. 30 was retired from the program and hangs in the rafters of the Schottenstein Center and Value City Arena.
After her collegiate career, Smith played 15 WNBA seasons with the Minnesota Lynx, Detroit Shock, Washington Mystics, Seattle Storm and New York Liberty. She was a seven-time All-Star, won two championships and was named to the league's W25 team, which honors the top 25 players in the WNBA's history. Smith was also a three-time Olympian with the United State's national team and won three gold medals in 2000, 2004 and 2008.
While playing for the Shock in 2008, Smith returned to Ohio State and completed her bachelor's degree. Following her retirement from the WNBA in 2014, she earned her master's degree from the university. After completing those degrees, Smith began coaching in the WNBA for the Liberty and later joined the Lynx's coaching staff in 2020. She was promoted to associate head coach in 2022.
Ohio State's commencement ceremony will be held on Dec. 18 at the Schottenstein Center, with approximately 3,600 students set to receive diplomas.
