Ex-Jackson star Kelli Kingma out to establish her own identity at UW

SEATTLE — In her first season with the University of Washington women’s basketball team, Kelli Kingma often feels the presence of older sister and former Husky Kristi Kingma.

All she has to do is look around.

In the team’s training room, Kristi Kingma’s picture is displayed in a gallery of UW greats. In the dining room, her name is on the wall in several places, citing her many accomplishments in four standout Washington seasons.

“Kristi was a big name,” her sister acknowledged.

Indeed, Kristi Kingma is No. 14 on the school’s career scoring list and holds a handful of school scoring records, including most 3-point goals in one game (11) and one season (86). But this season Kelli Kingma will begin writing her own college basketball story, and it is one that could be every bit as successful as her older sibling.

According to UW coach Mike Neighbors, it was Kristi herself who said, “Kelli is going to be better than me.”

Still, Neighbors added, “the comparisons are inevitable and they’re going to keep coming. But over the course of her four years here, I want Kelli to develop her own identity.”

Like her sister, Kelli Kingma was a top player at Mill Creek’s Jackson High School. The Huskies took notice early, and during an unofficial visit to the UW campus in the spring of her high school freshman year then-coach Kevin McGuff offered a scholarship.

Urged by her father, Gregg, to be sure of her decision, she waited about six months before announcing publicly what she knew all along in her heart — she wanted to be a Husky.

“Honestly, (coming to Washington) is a dream come true,” Kelli Kingma said. “I watched my sister play here and this has always been my dream school.”

In addition, she very much wanted to stay in Seattle. “My family is really close,” she explained, “and I could never go far away from them. Basketball is my first love, my passion, but at the end of the day, it’s my family that’s more important to me. And I couldn’t sacrifice that.”

By the time she arrived at Washington, McGuff had left to become the head coach at Ohio State University. Neighbors, a former UW assistant responsible for much of Kingma’s primary recruiting, had been hired as his replacement.

From the start, Neighbors made it clear that he wanted Kingma in the program as much as ever.

“She’s the definition of a student-athlete, of what you want on and off the court,” he said. “Do you trust her? Yes. Is she talented? Yes. Does she put in the time? Absolutely. And when you can check those three boxes, we know we want them.”

For all the similarities between Kingma and her older sister — “Some of the things they do, I can’t tell a drastic difference,” Neighbors said — they are different players. Kristi Kingma was a prolific scorer, while Kelli Kingma has a more balanced game.

“Kelli is probably more rounded,” Neighbors said. “Kristi did something (scoring) at a great level and a very elite level, but Kelli does a whole bunch of things really, really well. … She can do it all.”

For now Kelli Kingma is coming off the bench and it probably will be that way for much of this season, mostly because Washington has a terrific backcourt tandem of senior Jazmine Davis and sophomore Kelsey Plum. Davis, a three-time All-Pacific-12 Conference choice, will likely become the school’s career scoring leader sometime this season, while Plum set a single-game school record with 45 points in Washington’s season-opening loss at Oklahoma last week.

“My first practice I stepped up to guard Kelsey and she blew straight past me and made a layup,” Kingma recalled. “Then I guarded Jazz and she pulled up and hit a 3 right in my face. And I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness. What am I doing out here?’

“In terms of the speed of the game and the talent that’s here, it’s obviously a huge transition between high school and college. But it’s gotten easier and I feel now like I belong out here. Every single day I wake up loving it, and my teammates have always been so supportive of me. It’s been really fun learning from them.”

Although there are constant reminders of her sister — “I think every single day somebody says to me, ‘Hey, Kristi,’” Kelli Kingma said — there is also an opportunity to do something truly special herself.

“From Day 1, (Coach) Neighbors has said, ‘Kelli, we didn’t recruit you because of your sister. We recruited you as Kelli Kingma, not Kristi Kingma.’ So I don’t feel any pressure about that.

“And at the end of the day, Kristi’s my biggest fan. She’s going to be the first one to tell me how well I did and how proud she is of me.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.